Maid Marian & The Misfortunes of Elphin

A witty, irreverent, and brilliantly satirical reimagining of medieval legend, Maid Marian and The Misfortunes of Elphin are Thomas Love Peacock’s most playful and subversive novels.

In Maid Marian (1822), Peacock transforms the Robin Hood legend into a riotous political and social satire. Here, Marian is no passive heroine but a bold and resourceful leader, outmatching both outlaws and aristocrats alike. Through razor-sharp dialogue and comic absurdity, Peacock ridicules the conventions of chivalry, monarchy, and feudal society, offering a refreshingly modern take on the legendary outlaw’s tale.

In The Misfortunes of Elphin (1829), Peacock ventures into the mythical past of Wales, blending Arthurian romance, bardic tradition, and biting political satire. The hapless Prince Elphin, his formidable wife Angharad, and the ever-wise bard Taliesin navigate a world of floods, courtly intrigue, and an amusingly incompetent King Arthur. Filled with brilliantly anachronistic wit and wry observations on power and fate, this is Peacock at his most inventive.

Brimming with mock-heroic adventure, literary parody, and philosophical humour, these two novels remain as subversive and entertaining today as when they were first published.

This edition includes a new introduction that explores the historical and literary influences behind Peacock’s satire, making it an essential addition to the library of any lover of classic literature, Arthurian myth, or historical comedy.

Perfect for lovers of Arthurian myth, Robin Hood retellings, and the playful satire of Cervantes and Swift.

With an introduction and notes by L.A. DAVENPORT.

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“An amusing satirical take on the tale of Maid Marian…a good read.” Mary H, NetGalley.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the Maid Marian text, which was funny and smart…To say this was written in the 1820s it felt quite modern.” Catherine O, NetGalley.

📖 Discover why Maid Marian remains a sharp, subversive and strikingly modern feminist heroine. Read L.A. Davenport’s column on how Peacock reimagined myth, power and satire for a new age in two novels sparkling with revolutionary energy.
Read the column →

Thomas Love Peacock (1785–1866) was an English novelist, poet and satirist renowned for his witty and insightful critiques of society and intellectual trends. A close friend of Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, Peacock offered a humorous counterpoint to the era’s lofty ideals through his works, including Headlong Hall and Nightmare Abbey.

Blending sharp satire with philosophical debate, Peacock’s novels remain timeless reflections on human nature and the absurdities of intellectual extremes.

L.A. Davenport is a writer and storyteller born in Cork, Ireland. He studied Medical Sciences and Social Anthropology at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and has written novels, short stories, essays and reflections exploring science, history and the human experience. He divides his time between Lincolnshire and the Côte d’Azur, and has a fondness for typewriters, long walks and strong cups of tea.

Learn more about L.A. Davenport and his writing at Pushing the Wave.