Robin Hood ― The Unknown Templar

Davis, who has been involved with Rochester University's Robin Hood Project, reviews the ballads, myths and speculations involving the legendary outlaw. He makes a thorough dissection of the layers of additions made to the earliest ballads and looks at several of the theories involving the man's true identity, if indeed, there is a man behind the myth. He admits that his conclusion is also only speculation, drawn from early representations of Robin and his men as militarily trained, celibate and generous. He posits that they were Templars from an English commandery who became outlaws after the dissolution of the order in 1307. Unfortunately, some of the information he cites is from unreliable sources both about the Templars and the absence of information on what happened to the remnant in England after the end of the order. The fate of most of them is known. Nevertheless, the analytical chapters cover the history of the legend well and Davis adds that the authors of the legend may have simply used the Templars as a template for the merry men, a suggestion that is much more plausible. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)