Fairy Tales
By the Grimm Brothers

About the Brothers Grimm

The Brothers Grimm, Jacob (1785-1863) and Wilhelm (1786-1859), were born in Hanau, near Frankfurt, in the German state of Hesse. Throughout their lives they remained close friends, and both studied law at Marburg University. Jacob was a pioneer in the study of German philology, and although Wilhelm’s work was hampered by poor health the brothers collaborated in the creation of a German dictionary, not completed until a century after their deaths. But they were best (and universally) known for the collection of over two hundred folk tales they made from oral sources and published in two volumes of ’Nursery and Household Tales’ in 1812 and 1814. Although their intention was to preserve such material as part of German cultural and literary history, and their collection was first published with scholarly notes and no illustration, the tales soon came into the possession of young readers. This was in part due to Edgar Taylor, who made the first English translation in 1823, selecting about fifty stories ’with the amusement of some young friends principally in view.’ They have been an essential ingredient of children’s reading ever since.

The Golden Bird • Hans in Luck • Jorinda and Jorindel • The Travelling Musicians • Old Sultan • The Straw, the Coal, and the Bean • Briar Rose • The Dog and the Sparrow • The Twelve Dancing Princesses • The Fisherman and His Wife • The Willow-Wren and the Bear • The Frog-Prince • Cat and Mouse in Partnership • The Goose-Girl • The Adventures of Chanticleer and Partlet • Rapunzel • Fundevogel • The Valiant Little Tailor • Hansel and Gretel • The Mouse, the Bird, and the Sausage • Mother Holle • Little Red-Cap [little Red Riding Hood] • The Robber Bridegroom • Tom Thumb • Rumpelstiltskin • Clever Gretel • The Old Man and His Grandson • The Little Peasant • Frederick and Catherine • Sweetheart Roland • Snowdrop • The Pink • Clever Elsie • The Miser in the Bush • Ashputtel • The White Snake • The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids • The Queen Bee • The Elves and the Shoemaker • The Juniper-Tree • The Turnip • Clever Hans • The Three Languages • The Fox and the Cat • The Four Clever Brothers • Lily and the Lion • The Fox and the Horse • The Blue Light • The Raven • The Golden Goose • The Water of Life • The Twelve Huntsmen • The King of the Golden Mountain • Doctor Knowall • The Seven Ravens • The Wedding of Mrs Fox • Second Story • The Salad • The Story of the Youth Who Went Forth to Learn What Fear Was • King Grisly-Beard • Iron Hans • Cat-Skin • Snow-White and Rose-Red • About the Brothers Grimm •

Fairy Tales By the Grimm Brothers

About the Brothers Grimm

Fairy Tales
By the Grimm Brothers