Between the Covers | A Peek into Classic Books: Grimm’s Fairy Tales

The Brothers Grimm, Jacob (1785–1863) and Wilhelm (1786–1859), set out to collect and preserve authentic folktales of their Germanic culture. They began by listening to live storytellers throughout the countryside. They did not intend the collection to entertain children. They released the first edition of “Children’s and Household Tales” in 1812. It contained 210 stories, commonly known as “Grimm’s Fairy Tales.”

The two volumes included famous fairy tales like “Snow White,” “Cinderella,” and “Rumpelstiltskin.” The Grimm brothers released seven different editions over forty years. Their early versions were often violent and dark, showing the harsh realities of life in medieval Europe. The first editions stayed close to oral tradition, but later editions became more literary to accommodate a growing literary public. In popularity, Grimm Fairy Tales were second only to the Bible in German-speaking lands. By the 20th century, they were the most famous collection of folk and fairy tales in the Western world.

To broaden their appeal beyond folklore preservation and create a more universal and child-friendly collection, the Brothers Grimm, especially Wilhelm, incorporated literary enhancements to make the stories accessible to children. The later stories were longer and more developed. The original version contained some fully developed stories, but others were only sketches or outlines. Wording changed, such as the evil mother became the wicked stepmother. This is because by the mid-19th century, the cult of motherhood became sacred. In the original “Rapunzel,” the Prince’s relationship with Rapunzel implied a carefree sexual encounter, but in the 1857 edition, it removed any mention of pregnancy. Another societal influence on the writing was the Napoleonic wars (1803-1815). France occupied much of German-speaking Europe. They rejected anything French, including the word “fairy.” Fairies became supernatural beings.

Authors submitted other stories for consideration throughout their publishing years. Subsequent submissions proved equally, if not more, terrifying than the originals, so the Grimm brothers did not accept them. The number of stories included decreased by fifty-four between the first and last editions.