Bookmarks: The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm

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Fairytales of the Brothers Grimm book with glass of milk, plate of cookies and lit candle in a pewter candleholder

The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm is a new collection of the famous stories edited by Noel Daniel and newly translated by Matthew P. Price.

title page of the Fairytales of the Brothers Grimm book

It’s published by Taschen and marks the 200th anniversary of the Grimm’s Fairy Tales.

illustration for the Golden Goose story

Jacob & Wilhelm Grimm initially set about collecting tales as anthropologists and linguists. Their fame as children’s authors developed during the 19th century with the publication of successive collections of German folk tales, re-written & adapted over time.

illustration for the Puss in Boots story

If anyone doubts the importance & influence of the brothers work, the Grimm’s fairy tales were selected for inclusion in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2005 – an initiative to safeguard documents vital to world history!

illustration for the Sleeping Beauty story

This particular book works on two levels – and it’s a perfect balance.

illustration for the Sleeping Beauty story

On one level, it’s an analysis of the tales – their origins, variations, morals, meaning and symbolism.

illustration for the Mother Holle story

This is done with a comprehensive overview at the start of the book, then through short introductions to each tale.

illustration for the Shoemaker and the Elves story

Their influence on visual culture has been widespread and the art they inspired is a fundamental aspect of this book.

illustration for the Snow White, Rose Red story

The artwork is consequently stunning – we love the use of different illustrators, both historical and contemporary, for each story within the one collection.

illustration for the Frog Prince story

There’s classic Art Nouveau, Art Deco & Romanticism. There are illustrations with a medieval appearance and some with a Scandinavian folk art feel.

illustration of prancing horses illustration illustration of horses and carriage

illustration for the Red Riding Hood story illustration for the Red Riding Hood story

Everyone will have their own personal favourites.

illustration for the Mother Holle story

We gravitated towards those from the late 40s & 50s – the colour lithographs by Herbert Leupin featured in Sleeping Beauty & Mother Holle; tempura drawings by Gustaf Tenggren as seen in Devil with the Three Golden Hairs & Snow White – and the silhouette pictures by Divica Landrova featured in Little Red Riding Hood.

illustration for the Mother Holle story

Other significant artists featured in the stories are Arthur Rackham, Oswald Sickert & Walter Crane.

illustration for the Rapunzel story

There are extended biographies for all the artists at the rear of the book.

illustration for the Devil with Three Golden Hairs story illustration for the Devil with Three Golden Hairs story

On a simpler level, the book is just a lovely collection of classic fairy tales.

illustration for the Twelve Dancing Princesses story

We can imagine the sense of anticipation & excitement as it’s taken from the shelf for a bedtime story!

illustration for the Twelve Dancing Princesses story

It’s a sumptuous book to handle – a fabric cover in a rich, royal purple, debossed gold lettering and colourful bookmark ribbons.

illustration for the Snow White story

A real treat for the reader or the listener!

illustration for the Snow White story

The tales have a timeless magic – and we’re sure that owners of this book will be keen to pass it onto the next generation.

illustration for the Snow White story

Classic stories such as Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood and Rumpelstiltskin – along with lesser known tales – The Brave Little Tailor, The Fisherman & his Wife and The Golden Key, for example.

illustration for the Brave Little Tailor story

It will give hours of pleasure whether it’s viewed as a reference book or a story book – a work that can genuinely be shared between adults & children.

illustration for the Snow White, Rose Red story

As well as Taschen the book is also available from Amazon and Hive.

[Many thanks to Taschen for this review copy]