Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Novelist reinvents Robin Hood as medieval gangster
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Asia Pacific
World
Novelist reinvents Robin Hood as medieval gangster
Reuters - Thursday, July 15
Send
IM Story
Print
By Martin Roberts
GIJON, Spain - Robin Hood was a medieval Don Corleone rather than the altruistic renegade aristocrat known to millions around the world, says British novelist Angus Donald.
Donald is working on a quintet of Robin Hood novels, the first of which "Outlaw" was published in July 2009. The second in the series is titled "Holy Warrior," set during the Third Crusade in the 12th Century and due out in Britain on July 22.
He spoke to Reuters about the Robin Hood legend and the latest film version on the sidelines of the Semana Negra crime writing festival in Gijon, northern Spain, which is one of the biggest literary fairs in Europe.
Q: What makes your Robin Hood so different, and why?
A: "I wanted to make an authentic Robin Hood. I felt that basically we'd had this rather sanitized, whitewashed version of Robin Hood, given to us by Hollywood and books.
"I started to read the ballads, the earliest one of which is from 1450, called "Robin Hood and the Monk," and I discovered a much darker, more violent much less palatable Robin Hood to the one we're used to.
"We would not recognize the do-gooding, thigh-slapping, quick-trading gentleman-archer we know from fiction. I think he would have been closer to a homicidal mugger.
"He is a dark and violent man. He does, however, have a code of honor. I found the hook when I was watching the "Godfather" film for the umpteenth time and I was looking at Don Corleone, who behaves very much like a feudal baron."
Q: You referred to Little John earlier. Do all the other usual suspects appear in your books, like the Sheriff of Nottingham and Friar Tuck?
A: "We have all of those, but again we must be as authentic as possible. I set this book at the end of the 12th Century, there were no friars in England at that time, so he is Brother Tuck, "Frere" Tuck, which is where we get the word "friar" from anyway.
"I also replicate some of the scenes you find in the stories, for example when Robin forces Friar Tuck to take him on his back across the river, and they come back again, go back and forth and then fight, which seemed a nonsensical thing in my story, so I had Friar Tuck as a monk who was manning a ferry."
Q: Tell us about "Holy Warrior," your new book.
A: "Robin unwillingly is forced to go on the Third Crusade with Richard the Lionheart, which is an epic in itself. They go to the Holy Land and they fight a very big battle against Saladdin, someone's trying to kill Robin and there's all sorts of intrigue and an awful lot of fighting."
Q: Any possibility of films coming out of any of them?
A: "Well not really. We've just had Russell Crowe muscling his way through Nottingham and I thought it was a bit of a disappointment, one of those mish-mashes where there's too many script-writers, a director pulling this way, a star pulling that way and a scriptwriter who's fired and another guy comes in and says: "Hey, wouldn't it be cool if we added this in," so what you get is a bit of a mess.
"Having said that, it made England look beautiful, which is always a plus, and Cate Blanchett was fantastic and the fight scenes were pretty good."
Q: Has your 20-year journalistic career had a bearing on the books?
A: "I was in Afghanistan covering the war for The Independent , I was at Tora Bora when they were looking for Osama bin Laden in the caves. I saw an awful lot of bloodshed and violence, and I think it's colored the books."
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary Reuters - 20 minutes ago
AT&T slams Cablevision for "unfair" Mad Men talks Reuters - 20 minutes ago
US court hears filmmaker's appeal against Chevron AFP - 23 minutes ago
"Inception" gives fans a movie to think about Reuters - 23 minutes ago
Movie on Joaquin Phoenix's lost year gets September debut Reuters - 44 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Experts urge US to restrict drug Avandia
US Fed weighs new measures as recovery falters
Avandia increases risk of heart problems: panel
Libyan aid ship set to dock at Egyptian port
Rapid weight loss best way to slim down: studies
More Top Stories »
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Mel Gibson takes aim at Hispanics in fresh rant
Penelope Cruz, Javier Bardem tie the knot
'Abducted' Iran scientist surfaces in US
Obama vows to cut HIV cases with new AIDS strategy
US trade deficit widens to 18-month high
More Most Viewed »
Reclusive top mathematician turns down prize, again
Germany's 'Octopus oracle' keeps perfect record
Amputee cat gets bionic legs
Fans gather for Michael Jackson death anniversary
Who's right - the dolphin or the octopus?
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Thursday, 15 July 2010 EU says Iran talks must focus on nuclear programme
Two more Cuban dissidents arrive in Spain: ministry
Yamaha unveils zero-emission electric motor scooter
Libyan Gaza-bound aid ship heads towards Egypt
U.S. hands over prisons and prisoners to Iraq
|
Fresh claims hit scandal-tainted French minister
US Fed weighs new measures as recovery falters
Nokia Siemens Networks eyes Motorola telecom: report
Iranian scientist heads home to official welcome
Medvedev tells Russians to stop 'everyday' bribery
Avandia increases risk of heart problems: panel
Crackdown fears after Chinese micro-blogs disrupted
Bungled cases show weakness in Mexican judiciary
|
Ailing Merkel bloc loses upper house with state vote
U.S. hands over prisons and prisoners to Iraq
Libyan aid ship set to dock at Egyptian port
U.S. envoy says Uganda-type attacks hard to prevent
|
Rapid weight loss best way to slim down: studies
Prices soar as sanctions hit ordinary Iranians
Indonesia to ask internet providers to block porn
African troops parade in Paris amid rain, rights row
Afghan attacks kill 8 US troops in 24 hours
Kremlin says Russia losing battle on corruption
|
Afghan gov't says OK to local defense forces
U.S. and South Korea to stage military drills after ship sunk
|
Nokia Siemens Networks eyes Motorola telecom: report
Afghan attacks kill 8 US soldiers in 24 hours
India sets up unified command to tackle Maoists
|
EU says Iran talks must focus on nuclear programme
|
U.S. envoy says Uganda-type attacks hard to prevent
US, S.Korea to hold military drills after ship sunk
'Barefoot Bandit' vows to reform his ways: attorney
Indian FM brings 'peace message' to Pakistan: report
Hague says new govt to build on China ties
Hong Kong police raid developer behind record flat sale
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Bristol Palin engaged to Levi Johnston
US author journeys from Twitter to print
BSkyB says in talks to set up 24-hour Arabic news channel
China accepts WTO ruling on entertainment goods
First flight lands at showcase Delhi terminal
Novelist reinvents Robin Hood as medieval gangster
Thailand hikes interest rates for first time since 2008
Britain the best place to die: global study
Pakistani FY09/10 foreign investment falls 19.7 pct
Polanski to film 'God of Carnage' in 2011: co-writer
Geldof's Live Aid story to be made into a film
Lion, wolves and bears draw the crowds at Baghdad pet shop
Inception gives fans a movie to think about
|
Bristol Palin engaged to Levi Johnston
|
Movie on Joaquin Phoenix's lost year gets September debut
|
Eminem leads pop chart for third week
|
Reggae's Chaka Demus & Pliers sue for royalties
|
Geldof's Live Aid story to be made into a film
|
AT&T slams Cablevision for unfair Mad Men talks
|
Toronto film festival opener flaunts Canadian roots
|
Novelist reinvents Robin Hood as medieval gangster
|
Iran nuclear scientist returns home from U.S.
India, Pakistan open key talks in Islamabad
Iran nuclear scientist returns home from U.S.
|
Holbrooke paints mixed Afghan war picture
US-TECH Summary
N.Korea, UN Command in key talks
New strike hits Honda parts supplier in China
|
'Significant advances' made towards AIDS vaccine
Israeli attack on Iran would start long war
Apple to hold iPhone press conference Friday
Amiable mood for N.Korea-U.N. military talks: officials
|
'Facebook fugitive' taunts Bermuda police
Experts urge US to restrict drug Avandia
China faces worst floods in 12 years
Google to scan Dutch library collection
Hong Kong property giant 'welcomes' police probe
EU tells Iran ready to resume nuclear talks
U.S. senators voice doubts on Afghanistan plan
|
'Paul the Octopus' now an iPhone app
Pakistan and India seek to revive peace talks
|
One dead, over 100 ill in China from malaria pills
Afghan attacks kill 8 US troops in 24 hours
Israeli attack on Iran would start long war: report
|
Pakistan and India seek to revive peace talks
Hunt for Philippine fishermen after killer typhoon
Heavy rains in Japan kill two, three missing
Torture victim's saga mirrors Iran's history
|
China jet makes emergency landing after bomb scare
N.Korea, US-led UN Command talks end: spokesman
China faces worst floods in years
|
Writer claims Hollywood agents stole TV show ideas
Apple to hold iPhone press conference Friday
|
Angelina Jolie jolts a man's world: action films
Rivalries and economy cloud Google expectations
|
Beekeepers add buzz to Japan urban jungle
Abu Dhabi preserves Muslim musical heritage
Nissan suspends output in US plants
Willy Wizard takes on Harry Potter in U.S. court
Formosa to restart No.1 naphtha unit in 2-3 mths
Writer claims Hollywood agents stole TV show ideas
Apple on the defensive as earnings approach
|
Piers Morgan could earn $18 million at CNN
Taiwan stocks flat; focus moves from China to earnings
Jeff Goldblum miscast in London "Prisoner" revival
Seoul shares slip 0.4 pct on recovery worries
Betty White to guest star on TV's "Community"
BoJ keeps interest rate, boosts growth forecast
Gong, Lau to star in 'What Women Want' remake
Taiwan sells T$40 bln bonds at 1.0110 pct yield
China's economic growth slows in second quarter
PAKISTAN
S.Korea June LNG imports soar y/y; H2 growth may slow
China's economy grows 11.1 percent in first half
Angelina Jolie jolts a man's world: action films
|
Piers Morgan could earn $18 million at CNN
|
Betty White to guest star on TV's Community
|
New Orleans Saints march off with top Espys
|
Writer claims Hollywood agents stole TV show ideas
|
Willy Wizard takes on Harry Potter in U.S. court
|
Hockey Musical to open Toronto Film Fest
|
Russia tells Iran to come clean over weapons work
Russia has identified Estemirova's killer: Medvedev
Facebook names India management, eyeing top spot
BP lobbied UK over Libyan prisoner transfer case
|
Car bomb kills six in Iraqi city of Tikrit
Russia seeks German help to modernise economy
JPMorgan profit leaps nearly 80%
Tokyo trials digital billboards that scan passers-by
Medvedev eyes German help to modernise Russia economy
Philadelphia sign NBA number two draft pick Turner
China's online population jumps to 420 mln
Fresh unrest flares in N.Ireland
British major killed in Afghan attack: ministry
New car sales fall for third month in Europe
Google Earth map showing temperature rises unveiled
Afghan health team abducted; local official killed
U.S. hands over last Iraq jail but keeps 200 inmates
|
5 Afghan health workers kidnapped in Afghanistan
Karzai approves plan for new Afghan police force
|
5 Afghan health workers kidnapped in Kandahar
Vatican toughens rules on sexual abuse of children
|
Malaysia makes 1st military Afghanistan deployment
Argentina approves landmark gay marriage bill
|
Sudan expels two aid workers
|
Five killed in suicide bombing in NW Pakistan
|
Suicide attack kills five in Pakistan's Swat valley
'Abducted' scientist arrives back in Iran
Five killed in suicide bombing in NW Pakistan
'Abducted' Iran nuclear expert arrives in Tehran
Vaseline skin-whitening Facebook app sparks debtae
Amiable mood for North Korea-U.N. military talks
Bomb attack kills 2 in Pakistan's Swat valley: police
U.S. senators voice doubts on Afghanistan plan
BSkyB in talks over 24-hour Arabic news channel
Myanmar dissident takes struggle to ballot box
'Democratised web' helps Malaysian's life quality
"Hockey Musical" to open Toronto Film Fest
North Korea's health system seen in dire state
Amazon accused of infringing patents with Kindle
|
Wild tiger kills man in Indonesia's Aceh
Pakistan's forex reserves ease to $16.63 bln
China to keep managed floating exchange rate regime
China may shut websites with pornographic writing
|
Pakistani stocks fall on profit selling; rupee eases
Seoul shares slip 0.4 pct on recovery worries
Japan's NTT to buy S.Africa IT firm Dimension Data
China merges steelmakers to create top 10 producer
Spies uncloaked in new film and no, it's not Salt
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights