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Historical Medieval Outlaws: Ten Tales in Modern English ed. by Thomas H. Ohlgren $35 / Sutton Publishing / 1998 Outlaws figure prominently in medieval literature, perhaps the most well-known being that of Robin Hood.Although found throughout Europe and taking place over the course of many centuries, many of these tales exhibit similarities in character types, storylines, and mindsets, all too close to be accounted for by coincidence or common tradition. In Medieval Outlaws, the editors first explore the appeal of these outlaw tales, as well as discuss the three categories in which outlaws seem to fall (that of the Social Bandit, the Good Outlaw, and the Trickster). Then, for the first time in a single volume, ten translated outlaw tales are presented. Each story is preceded by an introduction which identifies the significant names, places, and historical events mentioned in the texts. Some of the tales will be familiar to modern readers, such as that of Robin Hood and William Wallace, but other outlaw tales, such as the legends of Eustache the Monk and Earl Godwin, are also presented. Of particular note is the the Outlaw's Song of Trailbaston (1341), a wonderful poem in which a violent outlaw advises his listeners to come join him in the woods rather than live under unjust laws. Accompanied by a thorough index, Medieval Outlaws is an outstanding exploration of a topic much ignored, allowing readers to walk in the footsteps of some of the most notorious outlaws of the Middle Ages. Not only that, but readers can compare the similarities between these supposedly disparate tales of cultural heroes who challenged the rigidity of a closed political system by breaking taboos, violating social norms, and righting political wrongdoings. —Lady Kimberly

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