The famous leader of the "free shooters" Robin Hood is sung both in medieval ballads and in modern novels, films and television series. The image of a noble robber protecting the poor and boldly challenging those in power is still popular, generating not only fans, but also imitators. At the same time, most scientists are sure that Robin Hood is a folklore hero who never existed in reality. But is it? What historical events and personalities could affect the emergence of a colorful image of the owner of the Sherwood Forest? And how has this image been refracted into fantasy for centuries, first by the British, and then by residents of other countries, including Russia? Historian Vadim Erlikhman writes about all this in his biography of Robin Hood - a man and a character.