Grimm's Fairy Tales

Grimm's Fairy Tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm (1812-1857)

The original fairy tales — Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, Rumpelstiltskin, Sleeping Beauty, Little Red Riding Hood, and over 200 more. The stories that shaped childhood imagination across the Western world.

Historical Significance:
The Brothers Grimm published the first volume of Kinder- und Hausmärchen (Children's and Household Tales) in 1812, collecting oral folk tales from across Germany. The collection went through seven editions, with the Grimms progressively editing them to be more suitable for children — removing sexual content but actually increasing the violence.

The original versions are far darker than Disney's adaptations: Cinderella's stepsisters cut off parts of their feet to fit the slipper; the evil queen in Snow White is forced to dance in red-hot iron shoes at Snow White's wedding; Rapunzel's prince is blinded by thorns. The Grimms' work was foundational to the study of folklore and linguistics, and their tales remain the most influential collection of stories in Western culture.

This public domain classic was originally published in 1812. Free to read and share.