Routledge - The Ecology of the English Outlaw in Literature

Explore the deep connection between nature and lawlessness in Sarah Harlan-Haughey's scholarly study. This book examines how outlaw narratives gain popularity during periods of national ecological and political crisis. By analyzing the shift from the menacing fens of Anglo-Saxon England to the mapped greenwood of later ballads, the text provides a unique look at how the landscape shapes literary identity. Readers can trace the evolution of the outlaw figure through a wide range of historical texts. The research covers Anglo-Saxon poetry and Old English exile lyrics like Beowulf, alongside the life of Hereward and the Anglo-Norman romance of Fulk Fitz Waryn. It also includes detailed studies of the Robin Hood ballads and the Tale of Gamelyn. This work is an essential resource for those interested in how the wilderness serves as both a shelter and a symbol in medieval storytelling. It offers a detailed examination of how changing environments influenced the way literature depicted those living outside the bounds of society.