Full Description
Selected Tales contains some of the most timeless and enchanting folk and fairy tales collected by the Brothers Grimm, translated with an introduction by David Luke in Penguin Classics.
These folktales collected by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm are among the most memorable stories in European culture - conjuring up a world of spells and bewitchment, outwitted villains and cruel stepmothers, animal bridegrooms and enchanted princesses. Tales such as 'Hansel and Gretel', 'Little Red Cape' and 'The Robber Bridegroom' depict the dangers lurking in dark forests, and others, including 'Briar-Rose' and 'Snow White' show young beauties punished by unforgiving sorceresses. Other tales include 'Thickasathumb', which portrays a childless young couple whose wish for a baby is granted in an unexpected way, while 'The Frog King' tells of a rash promise made by a haughty princess to share her bed with a frog, and a fortune is won in 'The Blue Lamp', when a soldier gains a kingdom with the help of a magic lamp.
David Luke's vibrant translation is accompanied by an introduction discussing the key themes of the tales and the literary background of the Brothers Grimm. This edition also includes new further reading and a chronology, with notes and a glossary.
Jacob (1785-1863) and Wilhelm (1786-1859) are nowadays simply known as 'the brothers Grimm'. Both brothers were state-appointed librarians in Kassel, and later members of the Academy of Arts and Sciences in Berlin, where Frederick William IV of Prussia had invited them to settle. Two of Germany's greatest scholars, Jacob is regarded as the founder of the scientific study of the German language, and with his brother Wilhelm initiated the Deutsches Wörterbuch, a dictionary of all words in modern High German since 1450.
If you enjoyed the Selected Tales of the Brothers Grimm, you might like Hans Christian Andersen's Fairy Tales, also available in Penguin Classics.
Contents
Translated with an Introduction and Notes by David Luke
Introduction
1. The Fisher an His Gweedwife
2. Rumplestiltskin
3. Hansel and Gretel
4. Little Redcape
5. Rapunzel
6. Briar Rose
7. Snowwhite
8. The Jeniper Tree
9. Little Brother and Little Sister
10. The Three Little Men in the Forest
11. Mother Snowbed
12. The Three Birdies
13. The Twelve Brothers
14. The Seven Ravens
15. The Six Swans
16. The Two Brothers
17. The Master Huntsman
18. The Water of Life
19. The Golden Bird
20. The Dwarfie
21. Jack the Strong Man
22. The Six Who Went Far in the World
23. The Six Servants
24. The Sea-Rabbit
25. The Worn-out Dancing-shoes
26. The Devil's Three Golden Hairs
27. The Griffin
28. The Three Snake-leaves
29. Faithful John
30. One-eye, Two-eyes and Three-eyes
31. Ashiepattle
32. Manypelts
33. The Rightful Bride
34. The Iron Stove
35. The Twa Royal Bairnies
36. The Goosegirl
37. Jack of Iron
38. The Frog King, or Iron Harry
39. The Young Donkey
40. Jack My Hedgehog
41. The Magic Table, the Gold-donkey, and the Cudgel in the Sack
42. The Knapsack, the Hat and the Horn
43. The Blue Lamp
44. The Salad-donkey
45. The Three Brothers
46. The Four Skilful Brothers
47. The Young Giant
48. Thickasathumb
49. Bearskin
50. The Devil and His Grandmother
51. The King of the Golden Mountain
52. The Prince Afraid of Nothing
53. The Crystal Ball
54. Auld Rinkie
55. Jorinda and Joringle
56. The Nixie in the Pond
57. Fetcher's Fowl
58. The Robber Bridegroom
59. The Bremen Town Band
60. Clever Elsie
61. Lazy Harry
62. The Three Army-surgeons
63. The Clever Little Tailor
64. Bumpkin
65. Owld Peadair
Notes
Glossary of Scots Words
