The Brothers Grimm

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm were two German brothers born in the 1780s. They traveled across Germany collecting fairy tales that people told each other. Then they wrote the stories down in books. Thanks to the Brothers Grimm, we have Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, and many other famous tales. Their book of fairy tales is one of the most translated books in the world.

Collecting Stories

The Brothers Grimm did not make up most of their fairy tales. They listened to stories that regular people told and wrote them down. Farmers, old women, and friends shared tales they had heard as children. The brothers wanted to save these stories before they were forgotten. Their first book of fairy tales came out in 1812 and had 86 stories. Over the years, they added more and more tales to later editions.

Famous Fairy Tales

Many of the world's most popular fairy tales come from the Grimm brothers. Cinderella is about a girl who goes to a ball and loses her glass slipper. Snow White is about a princess and seven dwarfs. Rapunzel is locked in a tall tower with very long hair. Hansel and Gretel find a house made of candy in the forest. The original Grimm stories were sometimes scary, but later versions were softened for children.

Fun Facts

• The Brothers Grimm collected over 200 fairy tales in their books.
• The original Grimm fairy tales were much scarier than the versions we know today.
• Besides fairy tales, the brothers also worked on a huge German dictionary that took over 100 years to finish.

Did You Know?

The Brothers Grimm were so close that they lived and worked together for almost their entire lives and are even buried next to each other!