Thursday 27 October 2016

What really happened to Robin Hood and his outlaws?

Robin Hood is probably the most famous legendary outlaw in the world. He is portrayed in a myriad ballads, books and films as an amazing archer who wore green clothes and who led a merry band of men. Of course, he robbed the rich and gave to the poor.
Peter Morrison



Writer Peter Morrison does not think it was as simple as that. The main character of his recent novella A Lonely Road, which is set in the year 1214, is not Robin Hood, who is dead and buried at its beginning, but a young advocate, Thomas Sturdy, who comes across his grave in the forest. He goes on to conduct a full investigation, conducting interviews with those who associated with the dead man, like a certain William Scarlet.

Douglas Fairbanks and Enid Bennett in 1922



He will be reading from his book and explaining his research at a free preliminary ‘Between the Lines’ event (with refreshments) for Headingley LitFest at 7pm on Thursday 17 November in Headingley Library. The main part of the annual LitFest (the tenth!) will be next March.

Northern England at a time of political flux and shifting loyalties is evoked in startling detail in this book. It all feels very authentic and it helps make it a proper page-turner. Copies will be on sale.


Peter Morrison lives in Keighley and is Chairman of Airedale Writers’ Circle. He comments: "The novella is making a comeback – not before time. Few doorstop novels seem to get read to the end. I wanted to write a short but intricate story which held the reader's interest all the way while evoking a sense of the distant past. Hopefully a work of fiction with a difference."

Tuesday 18 October 2016

Student volunteers step forward!

We welcome support and participation from all students, as in previous years. Get in touch!

Here's a photo of the LitFest's table in the Parkinson Court of the University of Leeds:
Photo by our volunteer co-ordinator Sally Bavage