"The book by one of the key historians of the 20th century, Eric Hobsbawm, is dedicated to the phenomenon of social banditry, classically represented by the legends of Robin Hood. But it was not only in Sherwood Forest that "bandits" appeared, challenging the hierarchical power system, defenders of the poor and folk avengers, elusive thanks to the support of communities and rapidly growing in myths and legends, almost with fatal inevitability, such heroes are found on all continents and in all corners of the world, in certain historical conditions. About how and why this happens, and how to separate reality from folk. legends, and told in this book."