King's Man; A Novel of Robin Hood

By Angus Donald

“A rip-roaring tale...inspired by but not slavish to historical events of the Dark Ages, this book is full of twists and turns...A fast-moving, thoroughly enjoyable yarn.” —Kirkus Reviews on King's ManIn 1192 A.D., with the Third Crusade over, Richard the Lionheart is headed back home to England, only to be betrayed, captured, and held for ransom.  Now with the princes of Europe lining up against him, the fate of the greatest warrior in Christendom lies in the hands of a renegade earl and former outlaw:  Robin Hood. The mission is deadly and the enemies are powerful and numerous.  But for king and country, Robin and his loyal lieutenant Alan Dale will face great risks—from battles on blood-soaked fields to deadly assassins—in a heroic bid to restore the Lionheart to his rightful throne.  A brilliant novel of the dark ages, one that brings some of the best-known figures in history to wondrous, vivid life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
• Release date: Nov 13, 2012
• ISBN: 9781250014689

Angus Donald

Angus Donald was born in China in 1965 and educated at Marlborough College and Edinburgh University. He has worked as a fruit-picker in Greece, a waiter in New York and as an anthropologist studying magic and witchcraft in Indonesia.For the past 20 years, he has been a journalist in Hong Kong, India, Afghanistan and London.

Reviews for King's Man; A Novel of Robin Hood

[speesh-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is book three of Angus Donald's re-boot of the Robin Hood legend. The year is now 1192, and the good news is, that after taking part in the battles of the Crusades in the Holy Land, Alan Dale and Robin Hood have returned to Merrie Olde England. The bad news is, that their King, Richard the Lionheart, whilst also making his way back home, has been captured by his enemies in Europe and is being held for ransom in a castle in Austria. And back in what is turning out to be a not quite as Merrie England as the one they departed from, Alan and Robin discover that Richard's brother, Prince John, has been busy making plans, capturing land and castles and generally making a nuisance of himself planning to be King in Richard's absence. An absence he is intent on prolonging by any and all means possible; assasination, bribery, treason...and that's just for starters.

And the good news for me is, I have to admit; it feels good to have Robin and Alan back where they belong, in England and rampaging through the forests of Sherwood. See, even Alan knows it is good for Robin as well:

"Sherwood was, as it had been for many years, the home of his heart, his spiritual sanctuary, his woodland fortress. He would be quite safe there."

So, isn't he back where his legend belongs, physically and spiritually?

In fact the whole of 'King's Man' feels more of a certain and convincing story for being back in ye goode olde greene and pleasant land (be interesting to see how 'Warlord', the fourth installment, develops the story, as I understand that one to take Robin and Alan over to France). It is a thoroughly convincing tale of 12th Century life, love and death. An emotional rollercoaster ride encompassing desperate battles, last-minute escapes - from of course, seemingly impossible situations - bursting with thrills, surprises, nerve-shredding close combat, huge surprises and fist-pumping "that'll learn ya!" satisfying comeuppances. Phew!

And Robin Hood.

It is worth remembering that while Robin Hood grabs the headlines in reviews and the story does revolve around him, this is actually the tale of Alan Dale. Robin has been, as perhaps befits someone more legend than man, something of a supernatural figure moving in and out the background during much of the story so far. However, in 'King's Man', I feel he steps much more onto the centre stage of the story. There is for me, much more of a feeling of Robin steering events, not events steering him. He is still a harsh, non-PC Robin, but also a more rounded, even likeable character. Even with those silver eyes.

Alan Dale narrates the story, but to be honest, it hasn't always been easy to keep liking him. He can be a rather annoying and cautious worrier, always blaming himself for when heavens conspire and things don't go to plan. For instance, when Robin's brother refuses to do his part in relieving a siege of Robin's castle, Alan wonders if he is actually responsible, for not asking more politely.

But then Alan is more a man of his time than Robin is. Alan's inner doubts and tribulations surely mirror the prevailing zeitgeist. Where religious fervour played up self-doubt, tolerated no contradictions and baseless suspicion chased its own tail. As happens here, fiction was turned to 'fact' because no one dare deny it and so proved itself true in the minds of those looking for that proof. It is a similar environment to that of the time in which Giles Kristian's 'The Bleeding Land' is set, just some 400 years earlier. With ordinary people struggling to come out from under the suffocating blanket of religious fervor and blind doctrine. And their lords and self appointed masters seeking by all means possible to keep them in check with threats of eternal damnation, excommunication - and worse! The ordinary person up to his or her knees in mud in the fields, spoke (what became) English. The ruling classes - Richard himself of course - spoke French. The Church rituals were deliberately all in Latin, so the ordinary person had no idea what was going on, and churchmen could be the only means of getting closer to God's will and the only outlet for His displeasure. Sweet.

Luckily for us, Robin has no time for all that petty-minded religious nonsense and goes his own way. And it is that what has surely endeared him to people through the ages.

"He had that wonderous ability, did Robin, of commanding love in the people around him, no matter what he did." As Alan notes.

But then again, Robin can be as manipulative as the church in using Christianity and other people's beliefs, against them, and for his own purposes:

"I was privately amused that my master, a man who I knew did not have the slightest allegiance to the Pope in Rome, or any high Christian churchman for that matter, should use this law as a justification, I assumed, for executing these men."

Then, when the Templars send him notice that they expect him to appear before a Kangeroo court to answer trumped-up charges concerning his lack of faith, wouldn't we all, in such a position, have loved to have told the messenger to go away and bid him;

"That he ask the huskier novices to refrain from buggering him for a few moments to allow him time to shove this inquisition up his fundament."

Go Robin! Go Robin! Go Robin!

But then, the title, 'King's Man'...hmm...interesting. Which King, which man? Having previously sworn allegiance to King Richard, there's no doubt Alan is King Richard's man. So is Robin. And Robin is actually working to a secret agenda agreed with Richard in the Holy Land. Then there's Prince John, a man who would be King in Richard's absence. Alan also manages to pledge allegiance to John at one point in the story, becoming the would-be King's man. However, in my mind, there is no doubt who the real King of this story is, was and always will always be: Robin Hood. And Alan is his man. Like it or not.

And Alan professes not to like it on many an occasion. Giving rise to the point in the book where I realised I had really warmed to the inner turmoil in the character of Alan Dale. When Alan professes disgust at becoming the man he cannot help loving.

"What was I turning into? Would I become like my master, the most cold-hearted, ruthless killer I had ever encountered? I shivered, though the day was quite warm."

As i said earlier (if you're still with me), Alan is of course recounting his story of his life in the company of the legend Robin Hood, many years after the events took place. The concept of the novels, of a character writing his memories down long after the events occurred, is not a new one. But here, especially at the end of this novel, is one of the most poignant passages I have read anywhere in a long time. After doubts over the intentions of his family have risen, an older, wiser, wistful Alan emerges and (I hope Angus won't mind me quoting him at length) describes the feelings he has about how it is to be looking back over his life and the time he spent with Robin. I'm going to have to admit to have been truly moved when Alan says:

"I remember my glorious past so clearly, and my head is there for most of the day while I write. And where better to spend my last few years on this earth than with my younger, stronger self - with that young man so full of light and love and hope? The indignities of age come to all men who live long enough - but not all men can say that they had the friendship of kings and outlaws and heroes in their prime; that they walked proud and tall, without fear - before the weight and care of years bowed their backs. But I can. I can say, I can swear before God, that I have played my part on the world's stage. And played it to the fullest...And I was a warrior, once, a knight of England."

Simple, dignified, wonderful piece. It reminded me of the heart-breaking scene at the end of 'Shakespeare In Love', where Shakespeare promises Viola; "You will never age for me, nor fade, nor die", because they must go their separate ways and know they will never meet again. She will be forever as he sees her now, forever in his memories.

Jus as Alan sees his Robin, forever young, forever in his Sherwood sanctuary and forever safe in the glow of Alan's memories: "A savage warrior, a lawless thief, a Church-condemned heretic and, may Almighty God forgive me, for many years, my good and true friend."

So, what's not to like?

(This is really a 4.5 book. A 4 for the most, with an extra half for that last section alone. I don't want to give 5 stars, as I want him to try and beat this next time out. Won't be easy, but my philosophy has always been; if you think you can't do better - give up and move on. And I hope Angus stays with Robin Hood for many years to come. 'Cause I'll be staying as well).