Grimm's Fairy Tales (1812)

When I was a kid I had an illustrated edition of Grimm's Fairy Tales and it always terrified and delighted me. Listening to an all star cast (Jim Dale, Alfred Molina, etc) narrate the abridged version of these classics really brought me back. Also, it helped me recall how truly messed up the stories were. This abridged version is still a cakewalk to the original messed up dark fairy tales that you can find if you dig deep enough, but they're still enough messed up to give you a picture. There's lots of murders, bad parents, naughty kids, kings that like killing their daughter's suitors, and magic animals. There is truly a little something for everyone. This collection includes all the classics such as: Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, Cinderella, the little goose girl, and Rumpelstiltskin. The all ages, genders, and accents brought by the full cast make it a joy to listen to. A wonderful version, suitable for kids (and adults). ( )

Ironically, Snow White & Rose Red get along with their mother really well.

Interesting to see the originals that Disney worked their magic on. There's a similarity across some of the stories where you can see that perhaps they are mutated versions of the same original that have morphed as they were told.

Also there are a number of fairy stories that I hadn't heard before, them not having quite entered popular consciousness where I grew up. Possibly some of these would be the kernel of some good stories, Grimm's style is very much tell and no show. That suits the sort of morality tales these are, intended for someone to simply recount them at bedtime or round the fire or dinner table. They've come from an oral tradition, and anything taking longer to tell than 10 to 20 minutes would be too complex.

Still, it is an interesting piece of folk history and I'm glad I read these stories.
( )

No one, in my opinion tells a better fairy tale then the Grimm brothers. The collection of stories in this book included "The Goose-Girl," "Hansel and Grethel," "Little Snow White," "Cinderella," "Bearskin," "Briar Rose," "Rapunzel," "Rumpelstiltskin," and many others. Each of these stories had their own moral that readers of any age sometimes need to be reminded of, I think that is what I liked most about these stories. Many of these tales have been cleaned up and presented in a more admirable light, especially the princess stories. I think that some of these stories, while a little more gruesome, add in real elements of punishment for the evil characters. This can really hold in the message of the story. For example, in Cinderella the message is that kindness will always trump over evil. The Evil step sisters are left without toes and heels and blind by the end of the story. If that does not show children that being kind is the best way of life, then I do not think anything will. ( )

In 1812, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm published a collection of German fairy tales. A second volume was published in 1815. After various revisions, a total of 211 stories were collected.

My English hardcover contains 55 of these stories, taken from both volumes. Many of the stories are very familiar: The Frog Prince, Rumpelstiltskin Rapunzel, Cinderella, and Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs to name a few.

The violence in these stories is shocking. The brothers received criticism for it even in their day. In 1825 they printed a Children's Edition which included some of the safer stories. Walt Disney has rendered even the safer stories innocuous.

Take the original Cinderella, for example. When the prince came to find the sister who fit the golden slipper, the eldest tried first:

Her great toe prevented her from getting it on. Her foot was too long.

Then her mother handed her a knife and said, "Cut off the toe. When you are Queen you won't have to walk any more."

The girl cut off her toe, forced her foot into the slipper, stifled her pain, and went out to the Prince. ...

Then he looked at her foot and saw how the blood was streaming from it. So he turned his horse round and carried the false bride back to her home, and said that she was not the right one. (162-3)

She was the lucky one! The second sister had to pare down her heel. In the end, Cinderella was married to the prince. As they walked into the church, a dove plucked one eye from each of the false brides. On their way out of the church the dove picked the other eyes. "And so for their wickedness and falseness they were punished with blindness for the rest of their days" (165).

I suppose that's one way to get children to behave!

These stories are part of our culture. They have staying power that is rarely seen. Enjoy them—just watch out for vindictive doves. ( )