In 1883 Howard Pyle (1853-1911) published and illustrated The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood. Pyle based his book on the legendary English hero who is mentioned time and again in old English ballads. If Robin Hood did exist, he would have lived in the 1100s and 1200s. In 1968 Classic Press published a complete and unabridged version of the story as part of the Educator Classic Library. This version features maps, historical background, and definitions of key words on the margins of the pages.
Thus, as the reader enjoys the adventures of jolly Robin and his merry men (Little John, Allan a Dale, Will Scarlet, and others) he or she is guided through the story with annotations that enhance the reading experience. The many mirthful conversations among Robin's loyal band and the numerous good-natured adventure stories from Sherwood Forest make it difficult for the reader to be in a sour mood as he or she reads this delightful book.