The famous leader of the “free shooters” Robin Hood is glorified both in medieval ballads and in modern novels, films and television series. The image of the noble robber, protecting the poor and boldly challenging those in power, continues to remain popular, giving rise not only to fans, but also to imitators. At the same time, most scientists are sure that Robin Hood is a folk hero who never existed in reality. But is it? What historical events and personalities could have influenced the emergence of the colorful image of the owner of Sherwood Forest? And how was this image refracted over the centuries in the imagination of first the British, and then the inhabitants of other countries, including Russia? Historian Vadim Erlikhman writes about all this in his biography of Robin Hood - the man and the character.