Happy 232nd Birthday, Jacob Grimm!
Today, January 4, marks what would have been Jacob Grimm's 232nd birthday. What better day to celebrate the magic, and often gory, fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. A number of the Grimm's best-loved tales — Little Red Cap, Snow White, Rapunzel, Hansel & Gretel — are featured in our free exhibit, Once Upon a Time. The exhibit of material from the library's Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books is on display in the Toronto Reference Library's TD Gallery until January 22.
Kinder-und Hausmärchen, Jacob Grimm, 1785-1863 and Wilhelm Grimm, 1786-1859. Illustrated by Heinrich Asmus and Ludwig Grimm, 1790-1863. Berlin: G. Reimer, 1839. Kleine Ausgabe
Jacob and his brother Wilhelm published the first volume of their Kinder-und Hausmärchen (Children’s and Household Tales) in 1812. This was followed by a second volume in 1815. The Brothers gathered stories through a network of friends, acquaintances and neighbours. Their final edition of 1857 contained over two hundred fairy tales, folktales and legends.
Kinder-und Haus-Märchen, Jacob Grimm, 1785-1863 and Wilhelm Grimm, 1786-1859. Plates engraved by L. Haas after Ludwig Emil Grimm. Berlin: G. Reimer, 1819
The Once Upon a Time exhibit features a second edition of Children’s and Household Tales. The frontispiece to the first volume, above, illustrates the story Little Brother and Little Sister.
Here is a sneak peak at three more classic Grimm tales featured in the exhibit.
Mirror, mirror, on the wall, Who’s the fairest one of all?
A girl escapes from her evil stepmother to live with seven dwarfs in their woodland cottage.The stepmother, disguised as a peddler, tempts her with laces, comb, and a poisoned apple.
Original illustration for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Freely translated and illustrated by Wanda Gág (New York: Coward-McCann, 1938). Wanda Gág, 1893-1946. Pen-and-ink. Gift of Jane Dobell
This thrilling tale was the subject of the first animated feature film produced by Walt Disney: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). An original pencil sketch from the Disney film is on display in the exhibit. In the film, the prince awakens Snow White with a kiss. In the original Brothers Grimm tale, the bearers of her coffin stumble, accidently jolting the piece of poisoned apple from her throat.
Nibble, nibble, where’s the mouse? Who’s that nibbling at my house?
Hansel and Gretel are lost in the woods. They come upon a house made of candies, cookies and cake. Seems delicious, but….
Hansel and Gretel and Other Stories by the Brothers Grimm. Illustrated by Kay Nielsen, 1886-1957, London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1925
The Grimms made changes to this tale through successive editions of their Children’s and Household Tales. They substituted a stepmother for the children’s real mother, introduced a famine as background, and presented the father as essentially kind-hearted, but weak.
Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair.
The fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm. Illustrated by Arthur Rackham. Translated by Mrs. Edgar Lucas. London: Constable & Company, 1909. Gift of Peter and June Elendt
A baby girl is taken from her paren'ts by a witch who names her Rapunzel. When she turns twelve, the witch locks her in a tower. When the witch wants to visit, she climbs Rapunzel’s long hair. One day a prince hears Rapunzel singing and falls in love.
You can explore a number of editions of the Grimm Brother tales from the Osborne Collection on our Digital Archive. Better yet, visit Once Upon a Time before it closes January 22 to see rare lux editions, artwork, pop-ups, and puzzles and more takes on the Grimm brothers tales.
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