Locksley: The Story of Robin Hood by Nicholas Chase (pen name used by Anthony and Christopher Hyde), Penguin Books, 1983
The legend of Robin Hood (Robert of Locksley) continues to draw readers, and this book’s mix of history and legend made its way to the national best seller list. Written jointly by the Hyde brothers, it is just one example of the work of these talented writers who are connected to 66 Bolton Street. See the article about their mother, Bettye Hyde, elsewhere in this issue.
In this book, the adventures of Robin Hood are told from the perspective of an aging Robert of Locksley and give an account of his life through major historical events of the reign of King Richard I and King John. A 1983 review by the Washington Post promoted it as “a merry romp in every sense of the word, and a pleasant treat for lovers of adventure-historical novels.”
The authors – Anthony born in 1946 and Christopher in 1949 – grew up with an artist father and an early childhood educator mother. Over the years, the brothers individually authored multiple works of fiction and nonfiction. In 1985, Anthony’s first publication, called The Red Fox, resulted in a million-dollar advance for publication rights in 16 countries. Christopher started in 1979 with an environmental thriller called The Wave that continued to be published decades later. When added together, these talented writers associated with Bolton Street produced more than two dozen books…plenty of good reads for the coming winter.
