Little John Revealed: From Ballads to Modern Legend

This episode traces Little John, the towering sidekick of Robin Hood, from his first appearances in fifteenth‑century ballads through stage adaptations and nineteenth‑century romanticism to twentieth‑century film. We examine what surviving sources say about a possible real outlaw or folk hero, how physical descriptions were stylised, and why local traditions still honour him. The story shows how folklore is shaped by evidence and imagination. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices