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Tales of Brave Adventure
Retellings of Robin Hood and King Arthur stories.
184 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1963
12 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
Enid Blyton
5,128 books6,331 followersSee also:
Ένιντ Μπλάιτον (Greek)
Enida Blaitona (Latvian)
Энид Блайтон (Russian)
Inid Blajton (Serbian)
Інід Блайтон (Ukrainian)
Enid Mary Blyton (1897–1968) was an English author of children's books.
Born in South London, Blyton was the eldest of three children, and showed an early interest in music and reading. She was educated at St. Christopher's School, Beckenham, and - having decided not to pursue her music - at Ipswich High School, where she trained as a kindergarten teacher. She taught for five years before her 1924 marriage to editor Hugh Pollock, with whom she had two daughters. This marriage ended in divorce, and Blyton remarried in 1943, to surgeon Kenneth Fraser Darrell Waters. She died in 1968, one year after her second husband.
Blyton was a prolific author of children's books, who penned an estimated 800 books over about 40 years. Her stories were often either children's adventure and mystery stories, or fantasies involving magic. Notable series include: The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, The Five Find-Outers, Noddy, The Wishing Chair, Mallory Towers, and St. Clare's.
According to the Index Translationum, Blyton was the fifth most popular author in the world in 2007, coming after Lenin but ahead of Shakespeare.
See also her pen name Mary Pollock
Ένιντ Μπλάιτον (Greek)
Enida Blaitona (Latvian)
Энид Блайтон (Russian)
Inid Blajton (Serbian)
Інід Блайтон (Ukrainian)
Enid Mary Blyton (1897–1968) was an English author of children's books.
Born in South London, Blyton was the eldest of three children, and showed an early interest in music and reading. She was educated at St. Christopher's School, Beckenham, and - having decided not to pursue her music - at Ipswich High School, where she trained as a kindergarten teacher. She taught for five years before her 1924 marriage to editor Hugh Pollock, with whom she had two daughters. This marriage ended in divorce, and Blyton remarried in 1943, to surgeon Kenneth Fraser Darrell Waters. She died in 1968, one year after her second husband.
Blyton was a prolific author of children's books, who penned an estimated 800 books over about 40 years. Her stories were often either children's adventure and mystery stories, or fantasies involving magic. Notable series include: The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, The Five Find-Outers, Noddy, The Wishing Chair, Mallory Towers, and St. Clare's.
According to the Index Translationum, Blyton was the fifth most popular author in the world in 2007, coming after Lenin but ahead of Shakespeare.
See also her pen name Mary Pollock
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 7, 2011
I just found, oddly enough, both my parents' copies of this book, from when they were children. It wouldn't be my first candidate for a book they'd have had in common, honestly, but apparently they both loved it. It's funny in that it contains two stories, one about Robin Hood and one about King Arthur -- two stories that are rarely published together, since their whole ideology is different. (It does happen, for example with a lot more integration than is found here in T.H. White's Sword in the Stone, but it's unusual.)
It contains various stories from both traditions. They're not combined: it's two separate stories collected in the same book. Robin Hood and King Arthur are, of course, such very noble men, and their causes are unquestionable, and the men around them are just the same. It's a very noble version of Robin Hood, not a realistic one or one that contains much of the rogue. If he hurts anyone or steals from them, well, they deserved it. That's probably how it can be in the same book with a King Arthur story -- Robin is quite a courtly Robin, even if his court is a forest glade.
I remember being told about this book better than I remember reading it, when I was a child. I remember Mum talking about how she used to read it over and over again, under the covers at night with a torch at night, and she cried every time at Robin Hood's death and at the end of Arthur's story. Her mother used to think she was mad. (I've cried over books at my grandmother's house before, most notably at Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionavar Tapestry -- she really does think it's crazy to cry at books.)
I do remember that I treasured this book as well. I don't think I ever wept over it -- and I certainly didn't now -- but I did need to hug my bear very, very tightly. (Sorry, Yellow. I must've squished your stuffing ever so.)
It's Enid Blyton, so it's a quick read without oodles of substance, and quite possibly problematic in many ways (mmm, imperialism, for a start), but I can't read it like that. Too golden with nostalgia. There's something comforting about it, to me, and it reminds me of happy days when I fit between the rungs of the ladder up to my bunk bed, and it was but the work of a moment to make my bed into a pirate ship by handing a sheet down from the side, and to crawl in at the 'hatch' between two rungs of a ladder... I wouldn't recommend reading it as an adult, honestly, unless you have nostalgic memories of it (or at least of Enid Blyton in general) to look back on.
Obviously, this is a review more about nostalgia and my childhood than the book. Uh, at least I admit it?
It contains various stories from both traditions. They're not combined: it's two separate stories collected in the same book. Robin Hood and King Arthur are, of course, such very noble men, and their causes are unquestionable, and the men around them are just the same. It's a very noble version of Robin Hood, not a realistic one or one that contains much of the rogue. If he hurts anyone or steals from them, well, they deserved it. That's probably how it can be in the same book with a King Arthur story -- Robin is quite a courtly Robin, even if his court is a forest glade.
I remember being told about this book better than I remember reading it, when I was a child. I remember Mum talking about how she used to read it over and over again, under the covers at night with a torch at night, and she cried every time at Robin Hood's death and at the end of Arthur's story. Her mother used to think she was mad. (I've cried over books at my grandmother's house before, most notably at Guy Gavriel Kay's Fionavar Tapestry -- she really does think it's crazy to cry at books.)
I do remember that I treasured this book as well. I don't think I ever wept over it -- and I certainly didn't now -- but I did need to hug my bear very, very tightly. (Sorry, Yellow. I must've squished your stuffing ever so.)
It's Enid Blyton, so it's a quick read without oodles of substance, and quite possibly problematic in many ways (mmm, imperialism, for a start), but I can't read it like that. Too golden with nostalgia. There's something comforting about it, to me, and it reminds me of happy days when I fit between the rungs of the ladder up to my bunk bed, and it was but the work of a moment to make my bed into a pirate ship by handing a sheet down from the side, and to crawl in at the 'hatch' between two rungs of a ladder... I wouldn't recommend reading it as an adult, honestly, unless you have nostalgic memories of it (or at least of Enid Blyton in general) to look back on.
Obviously, this is a review more about nostalgia and my childhood than the book. Uh, at least I admit it?
August 11, 2019
A book of wonderful old stories, and what grand stories they are! You can read about the adventures of King Arthur and his Knights and many others, although I have to say that my favourite stories in this book are all about Robin Hood and his Merry Men:
I read about how Robin Hood became an outlaw, and then about his first encounter with Little John, a great giant of a fellow, seven feet high! They had an arduous fight standing on a log bridge, above a small brook, both holding a thick stick, as a weapon. Following their intense and bruising battle, they had great respect for each other, proclaiming a heartwarming friendship!
Little John introduced himself as John Little. "I give you a new name, little man!" cried out Robin Hood. "You shall be called, not John Little, but Little John." After a roar of laughter, they set off together for a feast in the forest!
Chapter eight describes the events leading up to Robin Hood's marriage to his childhood sweetheart, Maid Marian:
Friar Tuck was called, and there in the forest, before all the Merry Men, Robin Hood and Maid Marian were wed. Sweet Marian 'blushed' in her Lincoln green velvet dress. A prettier sight had never been seen in the Greenwood before! After the wedding came the marriage-feast, laid on snowy-white cloths spread on the grass.
Robin leapt to his feet. "Drink a health to Maid Marion, Queen of the Greenwood!" he shouted, before emptying his drinking-horn at a draught.
All the Merry Men sprang to their feet and drank to their lovely Queen's health. They all stood, tall and strong, wearing their suits of Lincoln green.
Then Allen-a-Dale struck the strings of his harp, and everyone began to dance!
Chapter thirteen describes the events leading up to Robin Hood's death:
Robin's problems began soon after the death of his royal friend, King Richard Lion-Heart. At this time, Robin was living in London, serving King Richard as his noble peer, Robert, Earl of Huntington.
When the King's brother, Prince John became ruler, Robin decided to return to Sherwood, and become an outlaw again, with his Merry Men.
Prince John was angry. He sent his soldiers into Nottingham and ordered them to search the forest and slay Robin Hood and his Merry Men.
During the ensuing battle, men on each side were slain or wounded. It was a sad day for Robin. Not until each side was wearied to death and could fight no more did the battle stop. When morning came, Prince John's archers departed back to London.
Robin was wounded, he lost his strength. Fever set in. Little John was anxious and stayed by his master's side, day and night. In desperation, Robin asked Little John to take him to his cousin, the Prioress of Kirkley Abbey. She was skilled in medicine.
The Prioress welcomed Robin to the abbey, but tragically for Robin, she hated him because he'd taken gold from the rich abbots and bishops, who were her friends. The Prioress betrayed Robin, by not binding his wound firmly, so his bleeding continued. Robin fell asleep.
Later he awoke and saw his blood was still flowing. At once, he knew he'd been betrayed. Robin groaned. He blew his horn, producing only a faint sound. Little John, sitting under an oak tree, heard Robin's horn, and he ran to the abbey. Little John knelt down by his master, unable to hide the tears that ran down his cheeks.
Robin Hood's requested to fire an arrow from his bow, through the window. Little John held Robin, and he shot his last arrow. It flew across the fields towards Greenwood and fell beneath an oak tree. "Where my arrow falls, bury me and my bow," said Robin. Little John promised to do so.
So died Robin Hood. His name lives on, in story and song, we tell his fame.
Little John put a stone over Robin's grave, and on it were written these words: "Beneath this stone lies Robin Hood, No archer ever so good, Such outlaws as he and his men, Will England never see again."
This book is ideal for children aged 8 – 12 years. My paperback edition was published in1963, and it has 27 chapters and 184 pages. The illustrations are very impressive, as well.
I read about how Robin Hood became an outlaw, and then about his first encounter with Little John, a great giant of a fellow, seven feet high! They had an arduous fight standing on a log bridge, above a small brook, both holding a thick stick, as a weapon. Following their intense and bruising battle, they had great respect for each other, proclaiming a heartwarming friendship!
Little John introduced himself as John Little. "I give you a new name, little man!" cried out Robin Hood. "You shall be called, not John Little, but Little John." After a roar of laughter, they set off together for a feast in the forest!
Chapter eight describes the events leading up to Robin Hood's marriage to his childhood sweetheart, Maid Marian:
Friar Tuck was called, and there in the forest, before all the Merry Men, Robin Hood and Maid Marian were wed. Sweet Marian 'blushed' in her Lincoln green velvet dress. A prettier sight had never been seen in the Greenwood before! After the wedding came the marriage-feast, laid on snowy-white cloths spread on the grass.
Robin leapt to his feet. "Drink a health to Maid Marion, Queen of the Greenwood!" he shouted, before emptying his drinking-horn at a draught.
All the Merry Men sprang to their feet and drank to their lovely Queen's health. They all stood, tall and strong, wearing their suits of Lincoln green.
Then Allen-a-Dale struck the strings of his harp, and everyone began to dance!
Chapter thirteen describes the events leading up to Robin Hood's death:
Robin's problems began soon after the death of his royal friend, King Richard Lion-Heart. At this time, Robin was living in London, serving King Richard as his noble peer, Robert, Earl of Huntington.
When the King's brother, Prince John became ruler, Robin decided to return to Sherwood, and become an outlaw again, with his Merry Men.
Prince John was angry. He sent his soldiers into Nottingham and ordered them to search the forest and slay Robin Hood and his Merry Men.
During the ensuing battle, men on each side were slain or wounded. It was a sad day for Robin. Not until each side was wearied to death and could fight no more did the battle stop. When morning came, Prince John's archers departed back to London.
Robin was wounded, he lost his strength. Fever set in. Little John was anxious and stayed by his master's side, day and night. In desperation, Robin asked Little John to take him to his cousin, the Prioress of Kirkley Abbey. She was skilled in medicine.
The Prioress welcomed Robin to the abbey, but tragically for Robin, she hated him because he'd taken gold from the rich abbots and bishops, who were her friends. The Prioress betrayed Robin, by not binding his wound firmly, so his bleeding continued. Robin fell asleep.
Later he awoke and saw his blood was still flowing. At once, he knew he'd been betrayed. Robin groaned. He blew his horn, producing only a faint sound. Little John, sitting under an oak tree, heard Robin's horn, and he ran to the abbey. Little John knelt down by his master, unable to hide the tears that ran down his cheeks.
Robin Hood's requested to fire an arrow from his bow, through the window. Little John held Robin, and he shot his last arrow. It flew across the fields towards Greenwood and fell beneath an oak tree. "Where my arrow falls, bury me and my bow," said Robin. Little John promised to do so.
So died Robin Hood. His name lives on, in story and song, we tell his fame.
Little John put a stone over Robin's grave, and on it were written these words: "Beneath this stone lies Robin Hood, No archer ever so good, Such outlaws as he and his men, Will England never see again."
This book is ideal for children aged 8 – 12 years. My paperback edition was published in1963, and it has 27 chapters and 184 pages. The illustrations are very impressive, as well.
January 8, 2011
A short story book by Blyton where she diverges from her classic mystery novels to write an adventure novel for kids
August 5, 2015
Blyton romanticises the English Legends
1 September 2013
I found this book to be a little dull and dry but then I suspect that this is a collection of stories that she had written in her early literary career and later compiled into a single book. The book contains two sections, the first involving the adventures of Robin Hood and the second involving the adventures of King Arthur. I must admit that I was somewhat surprised when I read this book as it tends to be more violent than a number of her other stories (particularly since that not only is there a death count, but a reasonably high one), and also has suggestions of adultery, though this second aspect comes out more in the King Arthur stories.
Both of these stories are traditionally English stories, one of them set during the dark ages and the second set during the period of the crusades. While I have not read many of the original Arthurian Legends, I am familiar with the story at least as it is told by Geoffrey of Monmouth. However, whenever I approach King Arthur I always seem to have the movie Excalibur at the front of my mind, noting that this movie does not actually paint King Arthur, and his reign, in a particularly good light. As for Robin Hood, he is a true legend as I am unware of any real source from which he came from. All I am aware is that his exploits arose at the end of the reign of King Richard the Lionheart and the beginning of the reign of King John.
I suspect these stories were not originally written as a single book, simply because in the first chapter we hear of how Robin became Robin Hood because his father was killed and his house was burnt down. We are then told that his merry men consisted of Little John and Will Scarlet. Later we are told stories of how they came to meet, which is not too inconsistent, but then in a much later chapter we are told that Will Scarlet is Robin Hood's brother.
The tale of Robin Hood, at least as Blyton tells it, comes out as a pastoral tale, being that there is a conflict between civilisation, as represented by King John and the Sheriff of Nottingham, and nature, as represented by Robin Hood and the Greenwood. Whenever Robin is in the Greenwood we are given the impression that everybody is happy and that the worries of the world do not effect them, however whenever they enter civilisation then there is strife. However, it is also noticeable that for the most part nature always triumphs over civilisation, particularly since Robin always manages to outwit the Sheriff and his cronies (which includes the local bishop). When he does seek civilisation due to an infection, it turns out to be his downfall.
There does not seem to be one consistent tale of Robin Hood as some of them paint the Sheriff as being the antagonist while in others it is King John. In any case many of them have this conflict resolved by the return of King Richard from the crusades, and he is always painted as being a model of honour and chivalry. This is clearly European propaganda because the crusades themselves were certainly not honourable, and many these days question whether it was right to embark on them or not. Some suggest that all of the problems that we face with Islam today date back to that era, but remember that there was always been a perpetual conflict between Islam and Christianity, and in many cases it has always been Islam that has held the upper hand. Islam had taken more territory from the Christians than the Christians had taken from Islam, and even those territories that we have taken back (such as Spain and the Balkans) had been torn with strife for centuries afterwards. The cleansing of Spain of Islam was the main reason for the rise of the Inquisition.
Once again, like Robin Hood, there is no real consistency in the story of King Arthur, and the story itself seems to have come from a period in which there has been little to no records. Monmouth outlines the story of Arthur in his History of the Kings of Britain, however Bede seems to completely ignore the entire period. However there is evidence that there was actually a King Arthur that lived during the period outlined by Monmouth, though as typically happens the legend itself has become much greater than the person upon whom it is based. One book that I have read suggests that Arthur was little more than a minor king who ruled a small part of England, whereas Monmouth writes as if he had managed to conquer all of Europe.
It is funny that in Blyton's story there are three swords. The sword in the stone in her story is not Excalibur but rather a sword that labelled Arthur as king. In a later story there is another sword in a stone which identifies Galahad as the knight who will find the holy grail. Finally, there is Excalibur, the sword given to Arthur by the lady of the lake, which in turn was a gift from Merlin.
Many of the stories in this collection deal more with Arthur's knights than they do with Arthur himself. We have the story of how Arthur became king, of how he found the sword, and of how he died after going to war against Lancelot. In her story Lancelot is always the loyal knight who was betrayed by Mordred. Mordred made it appear that he was having an affair with Gueneviere. The actual story suggests that he did have an affair and that Gueneviere was never actually a loyal and faithful wife. That was the impression that came from Excalibur, but also note that at this time women never had a choice as to who they were going to marry, and also in this particular story the characters seem to always appeal to Merlin to get him to use magic so that they might get the women that they wanted (as is the case with Uther).
These stories call back to the age of chivalry, though in many cases this seems to be a very outdated model that does not seem to align itself with ethics. Chivalry seems to have a lot to do with the way one conducts oneself in battle and how one conducts oneself around women. I would ask the question of why one would be sexist about this but in reality it is not. The reason I say this is because in those days ones interaction between the two sexes were different: the men would fight and the women wouldn't (which is not necessarily the case). Therefore it could be considered being the way one conducted themselves on the battlefield and in the castle. There were rules to warfare, and these rules were exemplified in the code of chivalry, and to me this is understandable. In many cases this code has died but we have attempted to resurrect it in the form of the Geneva Convention and the Declaration of the Rights of Man, but as much as we try, it does not happen. If this is the case today in our post-enlightened world, I suspect that it didn't happen during the days of chivalry either. In many ways it is simply us looking back to the past and painting a rosy picture that simply says that it was much better then than it is now.
1 September 2013
I found this book to be a little dull and dry but then I suspect that this is a collection of stories that she had written in her early literary career and later compiled into a single book. The book contains two sections, the first involving the adventures of Robin Hood and the second involving the adventures of King Arthur. I must admit that I was somewhat surprised when I read this book as it tends to be more violent than a number of her other stories (particularly since that not only is there a death count, but a reasonably high one), and also has suggestions of adultery, though this second aspect comes out more in the King Arthur stories.
Both of these stories are traditionally English stories, one of them set during the dark ages and the second set during the period of the crusades. While I have not read many of the original Arthurian Legends, I am familiar with the story at least as it is told by Geoffrey of Monmouth. However, whenever I approach King Arthur I always seem to have the movie Excalibur at the front of my mind, noting that this movie does not actually paint King Arthur, and his reign, in a particularly good light. As for Robin Hood, he is a true legend as I am unware of any real source from which he came from. All I am aware is that his exploits arose at the end of the reign of King Richard the Lionheart and the beginning of the reign of King John.
I suspect these stories were not originally written as a single book, simply because in the first chapter we hear of how Robin became Robin Hood because his father was killed and his house was burnt down. We are then told that his merry men consisted of Little John and Will Scarlet. Later we are told stories of how they came to meet, which is not too inconsistent, but then in a much later chapter we are told that Will Scarlet is Robin Hood's brother.
The tale of Robin Hood, at least as Blyton tells it, comes out as a pastoral tale, being that there is a conflict between civilisation, as represented by King John and the Sheriff of Nottingham, and nature, as represented by Robin Hood and the Greenwood. Whenever Robin is in the Greenwood we are given the impression that everybody is happy and that the worries of the world do not effect them, however whenever they enter civilisation then there is strife. However, it is also noticeable that for the most part nature always triumphs over civilisation, particularly since Robin always manages to outwit the Sheriff and his cronies (which includes the local bishop). When he does seek civilisation due to an infection, it turns out to be his downfall.
There does not seem to be one consistent tale of Robin Hood as some of them paint the Sheriff as being the antagonist while in others it is King John. In any case many of them have this conflict resolved by the return of King Richard from the crusades, and he is always painted as being a model of honour and chivalry. This is clearly European propaganda because the crusades themselves were certainly not honourable, and many these days question whether it was right to embark on them or not. Some suggest that all of the problems that we face with Islam today date back to that era, but remember that there was always been a perpetual conflict between Islam and Christianity, and in many cases it has always been Islam that has held the upper hand. Islam had taken more territory from the Christians than the Christians had taken from Islam, and even those territories that we have taken back (such as Spain and the Balkans) had been torn with strife for centuries afterwards. The cleansing of Spain of Islam was the main reason for the rise of the Inquisition.
Once again, like Robin Hood, there is no real consistency in the story of King Arthur, and the story itself seems to have come from a period in which there has been little to no records. Monmouth outlines the story of Arthur in his History of the Kings of Britain, however Bede seems to completely ignore the entire period. However there is evidence that there was actually a King Arthur that lived during the period outlined by Monmouth, though as typically happens the legend itself has become much greater than the person upon whom it is based. One book that I have read suggests that Arthur was little more than a minor king who ruled a small part of England, whereas Monmouth writes as if he had managed to conquer all of Europe.
It is funny that in Blyton's story there are three swords. The sword in the stone in her story is not Excalibur but rather a sword that labelled Arthur as king. In a later story there is another sword in a stone which identifies Galahad as the knight who will find the holy grail. Finally, there is Excalibur, the sword given to Arthur by the lady of the lake, which in turn was a gift from Merlin.
Many of the stories in this collection deal more with Arthur's knights than they do with Arthur himself. We have the story of how Arthur became king, of how he found the sword, and of how he died after going to war against Lancelot. In her story Lancelot is always the loyal knight who was betrayed by Mordred. Mordred made it appear that he was having an affair with Gueneviere. The actual story suggests that he did have an affair and that Gueneviere was never actually a loyal and faithful wife. That was the impression that came from Excalibur, but also note that at this time women never had a choice as to who they were going to marry, and also in this particular story the characters seem to always appeal to Merlin to get him to use magic so that they might get the women that they wanted (as is the case with Uther).
These stories call back to the age of chivalry, though in many cases this seems to be a very outdated model that does not seem to align itself with ethics. Chivalry seems to have a lot to do with the way one conducts oneself in battle and how one conducts oneself around women. I would ask the question of why one would be sexist about this but in reality it is not. The reason I say this is because in those days ones interaction between the two sexes were different: the men would fight and the women wouldn't (which is not necessarily the case). Therefore it could be considered being the way one conducted themselves on the battlefield and in the castle. There were rules to warfare, and these rules were exemplified in the code of chivalry, and to me this is understandable. In many cases this code has died but we have attempted to resurrect it in the form of the Geneva Convention and the Declaration of the Rights of Man, but as much as we try, it does not happen. If this is the case today in our post-enlightened world, I suspect that it didn't happen during the days of chivalry either. In many ways it is simply us looking back to the past and painting a rosy picture that simply says that it was much better then than it is now.
February 19, 2021
An odd book in that it is half Robin Hood and then half King Arthur.
Anyway average retiling from Blyton.
I'd be interested in finding out how many Blyton books I have listed as read on Goodreads - a shame that the quick tool they had for such an inquiry was removed by Goodreads.
Bring back Most Read Authors you bunch of recalcitrant inbreeds!
Anyway average retiling from Blyton.
I'd be interested in finding out how many Blyton books I have listed as read on Goodreads - a shame that the quick tool they had for such an inquiry was removed by Goodreads.
Bring back Most Read Authors you bunch of recalcitrant inbreeds!
July 14, 2021
Having loved the Disney movie for 'Robin Hood' and the BBC show 'Merlin' since a young age, I'm happy to have this book in my possession. While it's not mind-blowing or super accurate (as some reviwes hint at), I still enjoyed these stories a lot.
January 13, 2022
Based book. Don't forget your role as a man.
September 19, 2022
I'm giving this one three stars and they're all for Robin Hood.
May 12, 2025
A beautiful book. I loved it so much when I read it as a kid. Still cherish those memories.
April 2, 2025
The book tells us tales from Robin Hood and King Arthur. Robin Hood was an Earl, who lived in the forest of Greenwood. He formed a band of followers that took from the Rich and gave to the Poor.
Some of Robin Hood's loyal friends were Little John, Friar Tuck. Will Scarlet and the Lady Mariam whom he marries.
The King Arthur is the only son of a former King and Queen of England. He is the only one that pulls a sword from a stone and by Royal Prediction, is crowned King. He marries the Lady Guinevere , his friend's daughter, who presents him a Round Table.
Arthur assembles a hundred and fifty knights to grace his round table. Sir Gareth, Sir Gavaine, Sir Lancelot and Sir Galahad who finds the Holy Grail.
King Arthur's sword is the famous "Excalibur".King Arthur is wounded in a battle with Lord Mordred and is taken away by the Nuns of Avalone. The Excalibur is returned to the river , whence it came.
Ms. Anuradha Cherkuri .
Some of Robin Hood's loyal friends were Little John, Friar Tuck. Will Scarlet and the Lady Mariam whom he marries.
The King Arthur is the only son of a former King and Queen of England. He is the only one that pulls a sword from a stone and by Royal Prediction, is crowned King. He marries the Lady Guinevere , his friend's daughter, who presents him a Round Table.
Arthur assembles a hundred and fifty knights to grace his round table. Sir Gareth, Sir Gavaine, Sir Lancelot and Sir Galahad who finds the Holy Grail.
King Arthur's sword is the famous "Excalibur".King Arthur is wounded in a battle with Lord Mordred and is taken away by the Nuns of Avalone. The Excalibur is returned to the river , whence it came.
Ms. Anuradha Cherkuri .
March 26, 2015
I love Enid Blyton's writing style and, as a child, enjoyed many of her books especially The Famous Five series. I found an old copy of Tales of Brave Adventure at a used bookstore and had to buy it. Inside are short tales surrounding the legends of Robin Hood and King Arthur. The stories seemed very promising!
Unfortunately, though the stories are well-written, I was disappointed in the repeated, gruesome violence casually glossed over. For example, a nun and supposed "friend" of Robin Hood bleeds him as a remedy for his wounds and instead of binding the wound, lets him bleed to death because she was really an enemy who wanted revenge. In the end, Robin does die. Also, Arthur's knights use any excuse to joust, fight, and kill others with no regard to whether their opponents are friend or foe or whether the killing is even necessary. This repeated killing in pointless fights and battles that the "hero" usually instigated are shamefully "justified" by the so-called Knight's code. In truth, there is no honor in the knights' behavior and hardly anyone, not even Arthur himself, portray characteristics a young child should try to emulate.
This needless brutality poorly disguised under the labels of heroism and adventure greatly disappointed me, and I usually thoroughly enjoy action/adventure tales. I would not share this book with any child.
Unfortunately, though the stories are well-written, I was disappointed in the repeated, gruesome violence casually glossed over. For example, a nun and supposed "friend" of Robin Hood bleeds him as a remedy for his wounds and instead of binding the wound, lets him bleed to death because she was really an enemy who wanted revenge. In the end, Robin does die. Also, Arthur's knights use any excuse to joust, fight, and kill others with no regard to whether their opponents are friend or foe or whether the killing is even necessary. This repeated killing in pointless fights and battles that the "hero" usually instigated are shamefully "justified" by the so-called Knight's code. In truth, there is no honor in the knights' behavior and hardly anyone, not even Arthur himself, portray characteristics a young child should try to emulate.
This needless brutality poorly disguised under the labels of heroism and adventure greatly disappointed me, and I usually thoroughly enjoy action/adventure tales. I would not share this book with any child.
August 30, 2015
4 stars.
I chose to read due to my mother's comment that she had read many of Enid Blyton's books when she was a child--as I stood choosing books to buy at a store.
This book indeed reminded me of Shakespeare's works--as of which the endings are mainly sorrowful. On the other hand, these are stories which I had heard but had not seeked out before I read these tales of Robin Hood and King Arthur. Somehow, I have seen movies of which, but clearly they are of different origin.
The language throughout was majorly quite easy to understand, though it was preferred in comparison to our vulgar, common tongue. Thoroughly enjoyed, and the fighting also made the story come across more realistically and didn't shy away from the horrors of battle.
One of the only complaints I have is that the romance is hazardly spoke of, and only short sections are provided for curious investigators.
I chose to read due to my mother's comment that she had read many of Enid Blyton's books when she was a child--as I stood choosing books to buy at a store.
This book indeed reminded me of Shakespeare's works--as of which the endings are mainly sorrowful. On the other hand, these are stories which I had heard but had not seeked out before I read these tales of Robin Hood and King Arthur. Somehow, I have seen movies of which, but clearly they are of different origin.
The language throughout was majorly quite easy to understand, though it was preferred in comparison to our vulgar, common tongue. Thoroughly enjoyed, and the fighting also made the story come across more realistically and didn't shy away from the horrors of battle.
One of the only complaints I have is that the romance is hazardly spoke of, and only short sections are provided for curious investigators.
July 5, 2014
Great read for a primary age school child who likes to read, or to be read to.
July 30, 2015
I can read the of tale of brave adventure
July 30, 2020
This book was cute. Very nostalgic for the Disney Robin Hood movie and the nights of the round table, Arthur and Merlin. A wholesome adventurous read.
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