Once Upon a Time
Fairy tales have been the favorite of children when it comes to their kind of literature, especially the king and queens, princes and princesses, and the fantasy adventures that come with these characters. Thanks to our fairy tale authors, children all over the world are taught lessons through these magical stories! Two of the popular authors of children’s tales are the Grimm brothers. They are story collectors and known for their tales The Bremen Town Musicians, Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel and Rumpelstilskin. Let’s get to know these famous brothers.
Grimm fairy tales have been favorites around the world for generation. Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm were brothers. They were born in Hanau, Germany, more than 2300 years ago.
The brothers lived and worked together. Jakob studied the history of law and literature of Germany’s past. Wilhelm studied stories about heroes and other old texts. Together, they began work on a large dictionary of the German language. The brothers also became interested in folk tales. Many people had heard a few stories, but no one thought the tales were important.
Wilhelm and Jakob collected local tales and legends, especially stories told to children. They also found a peasant woman who knew many more stories and remembered even the smallest details.
Altogether, the two brothers collected 210 stories. They published two volumes, in 1812 and 1815. Scholars paid little attention to the tales, and critics did not think much of them, but other people loved them. The tales were reprinted many times, and within a few years they were translated into 17 languages.
Jakob lived with Wilhelm, his wife Dorthea, and their children, and the two brothers worked together for the rest of their lives. Today, the Grimm brothers are well known as scholars, but they are the best known for the tales they collected.
No doubt they are children’s favorites! Everyone just loves a happily ever after, children and children at heart.
(There’s more authors next in line!) (: