The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood (1883)

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood of Great Renown in Nottinghamshire or as it’s commonly titled in newer editions, The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood was published in 1883. Written and illustrated by Howard Pyle, this novel is a staple in classic Robin Hood literature. Future novelists drew heavily on Pyle’s work for their own classic Robin Hood novelizations, borrowing from his characters and phrasing. Additionally, Pyle’s novel uses an episodic style, seamlessly stringing ballads together within a larger narrative. This style has been replicated by many Robin Hood authors, including as recently as in A.E. Chandler’s The Scarlet Forest (2017).

Notably, Pyle’s adaptation does not include Maid Marian as a character, although she was an established player in Robin Hood tradition by the time this was written and published. Later “adaptations” of Pyle’s work would include her and adapt her most popular ballad, Robin Hood and Maid Marian also known as Child Ballad 150.