Grimm's Fairy Tales

Once upon a time, two brothers set out to save the stories of their people. Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm were German scholars who feared that the old tales told by firesides and spinning wheels would be lost as the world changed. They gathered stories from friends, neighbors, and storytellers, and in 1812 they published the first volume of their Children's and Household Tales. Revised and expanded through many editions over the next forty years, the collection became one of the most famous and influential books in the world.

Here are the stories that have shaped childhood for two centuries. Hansel and Gretel follow a trail of crumbs into the dark forest and find a house made of bread and sweets. Rapunzel lets down her golden hair from a tower. Snow White flees a jealous queen and her magic mirror. Cinderella, called Aschenputtel in German, receives help from birds at her mother's grave. Little Red Riding Hood meets a wolf on the way to grandmother's house. Rumpelstiltskin spins straw into gold for a terrible price, and the Frog Prince waits for a princess to keep her promise. Alongside these famous tales are many others, full of clever tailors, enchanted animals, wicked stepmothers, talking fish, and youngest sons who win the day.

These are not the softened versions of modern cartoons. The Grimms' tales are by turns funny, eerie, and sometimes startlingly dark. Wolves are real dangers, and witches are truly wicked. But that is part of their power. In story after story, the kind, the brave, and the clever overcome fear and cruelty, and justice is done. Children have always understood that these stories are about real life: being lost, being small, being tested, and finding the courage to go on.

The brothers' work also helped found the study of folklore, and their tales have inspired operas, ballets, novels, and countless films. Some stories contain frightening moments, so parents may wish to read ahead with younger children.

Why read it?

• The tales everyone knows. These are the original stories behind so many beloved films and books.
• Magic and adventure. Enchanted forests, talking animals, and daring heroes fill every page.
• Timeless lessons. Kindness, courage, and cleverness are rewarded again and again.
• A window into folk tradition. It preserves stories passed down orally for generations.
• Made for reading aloud. Short tales make perfect bedtime stories.

Why the Comfortable Classics edition?

Comfortable Classics was created to help families build a library worth keeping. Each book in the series shares the same handsome design, a black cover with warm wood-grain bands and a parchment panel. Only the title lettering changes, chosen to suit each book's spirit. Together they make a matching collection that looks beautiful on a shelf and invites you to take the next one down.

Classics meant to be kept, studied, and handed down.