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.

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.

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.

Love the new take on Robin Hood!

What did you love best about Outlaw?

I liked this new take on Robin Hood. The character is compelling and more fully developed. I also loved the way that young Alan, from whose point of view we view Robin, must constantly wrestle with his wishful image of Robin Hood and the reality of the man he serves. I thought it added an interesting complexity to the story.

What did you like best about this story?

Robin Hood is not a good man in this version. He has goals, and will do anything to accomplish them. Anything. If you are part of his inner circle, then he will die for you. Or kill for you, what ever you need. If you are not part of that circle...well, look out! Very exciting story!

Have you listened to any of Graham Padden’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Graham Padden did an excellent job of narrating the characters! I've never listened to him before, but it was great!

If you could take any character from Outlaw out to dinner, who would it be and why?

That's a tough one! I'd want to take robin Hood, but he would never reveal his inner thoughts and plans to me, so I guess I'd take Alan Dayle instead.

Any additional comments?

This is a much grittier version of Robin Hood. It is an excellent story, but the fight scenes are not pleasant. Donald does a great job of providing excellent descriptions throughout the tale, which makes the beautiful parts easy to visualize, but it also makes the violence that much more real too. Still, this whole series is a must read/ listen!

An Excellent Version of the Robin Hood Tale!

A very interesting take on the Robin Hood legend we have all come to know.

Great Version of the Robinhood Story

Padded brought the story to life. I loved it.
The descriptions of daily life, and the battles made me feel like I was there.

Entertaining good Robin Hood story

Would you listen to Outlaw again? Why?

Don't know, maybe in a few years...

What other book might you compare Outlaw to and why?

Wolf's Head by Steven McKay. Also a good alternate Robin Hood story. Don't know which I liked better.

What about Graham Padden’s performance did you like?

B+ :) Good performance overall. Enjoyed his altercating accents allocated different characters. But as usual, with a dark male narrating voice, his female voices become a bit silly to listen to! (absolutely not the worst I have heard though!)

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Not really, but it kept me captivated, and wanting to listen on. Looking forward to book 2 already

Any additional comments?

Historical fiction is the best. (Conn Iggulden Emperor Series, Robert Fabbri Vespasian books, Anthony Riches, Jack Ludlow, Bernard Cornwell, Simon Scarrow, Philippa Gregory, Robert Low and so on..)Thought Robin Hood would be too fictional a story to listen to, but I was pleasingly surprised.