so far it's kind of like reading a musical

"May I never again have roof but the blue sky, nor canopy but the green leaves, nor barrier but the forest-bounds; with the foresters to my train, Little John to my page, Friar Tuck to my ghostly adviser, and Robin Hood to my liege lord. I am no longer lady Matilda Fitzwater, of Arlingford Castle, but plain Maid Marian, of Sherwood Forest."

This novella is intentionally and delightfully anachronistic. As fitting expected for this little Victorian novella, it's a romantic foray into the glittering imagined past of chivalric gallantry and courtly romance. It has an entertaining sense of humor about it, which I really enjoyed!

It's interesting to see how Marian plays a dual role in this book and inhabits two distinct versions of herself. She is an excellent archer and swordswoman and is featured in an action scene more than any other character. (Well, the novella is about her, so that shouldn't be too surprising.) On other hand, there is one portion of the novel where she is forbidden to leave her father's castle and spends a few chapters as her father's "captive". But it's worth noting that she was essentially grounded after embarrassing the sheriff and a knight while in the company of Robin and friends, leaving the sheriff "grievously bruised".

All in all, this is a wonderful little book, and I'm so pleased that it is among the first Robin Hood novels to be published.