Outlaw

By: Angus Donald

Narrated by: Graham Padden

Length: 13 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

When he's caught stealing, young Alan Dale is forced to leave his family and go to live with a notorious band of outlaws in Sherwood Forest. Their leader is the infamous Robin Hood. A tough, bloodthirsty warrior, Robin is more feared than any man in the county. And he becomes a mentor for Alan; with his fellow outlaws, Robin teaches Alan how to fight - and how to win.

But Robin is a ruthless man - and although he is Alan's protector, if Alan displeases him, he could also just as easily become his murderer....

From bloody battles to riotous feast days to marauding packs of wolves, Outlaw is a gripping, action-packed historical thriller that delves deep into the fascinating legend of Robin Hood.

©2009 Angus Donald (P)2009 Library Magna Books Ltd

Start to finish wonderful

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to the next... the story, narration and overall performance were top notch for this type of book.. if you're a fan of Bernard Cromwell, you'll like this series...

Excellent

This book was excellent and kept me wanting to get back to listening more. I am off to download and begin the next book in the series.

As Fine a "Fictional Saga" as Lonesome Dove!

I have "binge-listened" to the entire 8-book Outlaw Chronicles series over two weeks. ... OUTSTANDING! As engrossing a historical fiction saga as McMurtry's Lonesome Dove. As high a compliment as I can bestow.

That there was never "a Robin Hood" is of no more consequence than there was never a Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler" or a Corleone Family. Early 13th Century Europe was a violent time and Angus Duncan's masterpiece reflects that reality.

DEFINITELY read this series in chronological order as each book builds on previous events. I shall miss Sir Alan and The Earl of Locksley... "WESTBURY !!!"

A Lot of Fun. I Rushed to Get the Second Book

This is the version of the Robin Hood story I always wanted to hear. Not the one where Maid Marian and Robin never end up together, not the one where Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn end up old but separate; not the one where Robin Hood dies young. Yecch! Who needs to be depressed. This is swashbuckling, more cool than Errol Flynn and Alan Hale, more interesting and more historically accurate. Angus Donald can write a story that sucks you in with interesting detail and a unique take on tough situations. Graham Padden's narration is superb.

Not your parent's Robin Hood

I grew up watching the Errol Flynn 1938 movie The Adventures of Robin Hood and watching the 1950s TV Robin Hood series. In those any violence is mostly hinted at, although some arrows are shot and there is a sword fight or two. This is a very different Robin Hood, and it is very violent.

All of the old gang is here - Robin, Maid Marion, Little John, Alan a’ Dale, Will Scarlet, Friar Tuck, Much, the Sheriff of Nottingham, Guy Gisborne and others, but the book is full of violence with torture, grisly executions, the cutting out of someone’s tongue, pagan rituals and more, much of it described in lurid detail and, in my view, unnecessary. I will grant that the late 12th century was a violent time, and people’s lives were worth little, but I don’t really think it was necessary to describe in vivid detail the torture that took place, or the details of the midnight execution.

So why have I given it 4 stars? Because the writing is wonderful, the story is gripping and the narration is superb. Had the book been less well written, or less well narrated I probably would have stopped reading somewhere in the middle, but in the end I could not because I wanted to know what happened to the people involved and the answer to a mystery that was central to the plot. If I, who dislikes excessive and lurid violence in a novel, could not put it down I thought it deserved at least 4 stars, but I will not get the next audio book in the series.

Reverently Irreverent

narration was good story is way AWESOME. I love Angus Donalds approach. puts a "twist" on the story and legend similar yo Larry McMurtry's Lonesome dove series.

Scratched an itch.

I did enjoy this book very much, it hit on almost everything I like in a book. That being said, it was very predictable and it ended up feeling like an odd Bernard Cornwell book. Which I'll take one rung down from Cornwell any day of the week, the author is obviously a huge fan of his. Very good, but too familiar to be great, it scratched my historical fiction itch.

Side note, I do plan on getting the rest of the books, so take that for what it's worth.

Very entertaining

This was not my usual genre of audio book but a friend recommended it. I'm glad he did. I couldn't wait to get back in my truck to listen to more. Excellent narration. The story moved quickly. Characters developed well. I'm looking forward to listening to the next in the series.

Fantastic book

Every one of the the books in this series is great. I’ve listen to the all at least half a dozen times

Love this unique reimagining of Robin Hood!

Believable story of Robin Hood. Fast paced immersion into the time period of just before King Richard. Just enough detail of the time for your imagination but not too much to take away from the action. Well balanced. I loved it!