Brothers Grimm

Brothers grimm

The Brothers Grimm, Jacob (1785-1863) and Wilhelm (1786-1859), were German academics, philologists, cultural researchers, lexicographers, and authors who together specialized in collecting and publishing folklore during the 19th century. They were among the first and best-known collectors of folk tales, and popularized traditional oral tale types such as “Cinderella,” “The Frog Prince,” “The Goose-Girl,” “Hansel and Gretel,” “Rapunzel,” “Rumpelstiltskin,” and “Snow White.”

Born in Hanau, Germany, the brothers spent most of their childhood in the town of Steinau. They were very close, both in their shared interests and personalities. Their father, Philipp Wilhelm Grimm, was a jurist and town clerk, while their mother, Dorothea Grimm, took care of the children.

The brothers attended the University of Marburg where they developed a curiosity about German folklore, which grew into a lifelong dedication to collecting German folk tales. They were inspired by the works of Karl Freiherr von Savigny, a Prussian jurist and historian who awakened in them an interest in history and philology, the study of language in historical texts.

The rise of Romanticism during the 18th century had revived interest in traditional folk stories, which the brothers thought were reflections of a nation’s ancient cultural identity that should be preserved. They established a methodology for collecting and recording folk stories that became the basis for folklore studies.

Between 1812 and 1857, their first collection was revised and republished many times, growing from 86 stories to more than 200. In addition to writing and modifying folk tales, the brothers wrote collections of well-respected German and Scandinavian mythologies. They also began work on a German dictionary, a massive endeavor that was unfinished at the time of their deaths.

The Brothers Grimm’s works have been translated into more than 100 languages and have inspired countless adaptations in various forms of media, including films, television shows, theatrical performances, and more. Their stories continue to be popular and influential, cherished by children and adults alike around the world.