The story in one page
Hugh de Monthermer patrols Sherwood Forest searching for his missing beloved, Lucy de Ashby, while the kingdom fractures under the volatile rule of Henry III. Simon de Montfort leads a popular rebellion that divides the nobility, yet the domestic stakes are sharper: Richard de Ashby plots to secure his family title by murdering his own uncle and framing Hugh for the act. Robin Hood, operating as a strategic partisan for the common cause rather than a petty forest bandit, coordinates his outlaws to intercept Richard’s schemes. As national hostilities reach a brutal pivot at Evesham, a judicial inquiry ultimately determines the fate of the conspirators, culminating in a final, lethal arrow shot that delivers its own brand of summary justice.
Who's who
- Hugh de Monthermer
A noble knight seeking his lost love amidst political rebellion.
- Robin Hood
A sophisticated yeoman leader supporting Simon de Montfort’s popular cause.
- Richard de Ashby
A treacherous relative plotting murder to secure wealth and rank.
- Simon de Montfort
The rebel Earl leading the baronial struggle against King Henry.
- Kate Greenly
A woman seduced by Richard who ultimately exposes his murderous plot.
What it's really about
- Political Legitimacy
- The tension between weak royal authority and baronial reform.
- Personal Honor
- Contrasting Hugh’s knightly loyalty with Richard’s calculated domestic betrayals.
Why it's memorable
- The colorful, fluttering cointises and emblazoned banners of De Montfort’s army marching through Evesham.
- A peacock-feathered arrow striking Richard de Ashby dead during his final defiant exit.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Though King Henry pardons Richard de Ashby due to his aid in Prince Edward’s escape, Robin Hood delivers his own justice. An arrow from the crowd pierces Richard’s heart, leaving the villain dead on the grass as the outlaw rides away.
For your book club
- Whether Robin Hood functions better as a mythic trickster or a disciplined political insurgent.
- The effectiveness of trial by combat when the 'murdered' victim is still alive.