Grimm's Fairy Tales

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

52521

Title

Grimm's Fairy Tales

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

This collection offers fifty-one classic tales from the Brothers Grimm, edited by Frances Jenkins Olcott to restore the stories' literary perfection while omitting content unsuitable for children. Featuring charming illustrations by Rie Cramer, the volume presents familiar favorites alongside lesser-known folk-fictions. With a tone that balances humor, poetic feeling, and simple ethical truths, this edition serves as both an educational resource and a delightful read for families and teachers seeking to kindle imagination.

Summary up to 500 words

Edited by Frances Jenkins Olcott, this collection of Grimm's Fairy Tales offers a curated selection of fifty-one stories derived from original German folk-tales. The edition aims to preserve the literary integrity of the Brothers Grimm while ensuring suitability for young readers, drawing heavily from the Hunt translation but refining stilted language for better flow. The volume features timeless narratives such as "The Fisherman and His Wife," where a greedy wife's insatiable demands for a cottage, castle, kingship, and finally emperorship lead to her husband's ruin after he exhausts the power of a magical flounder. In "Bird-Found," two children rescued from a predatory bird demonstrate profound loyalty; when faced with a murderous cook, they transform sequentially into a rose-tree, a church, and a fishpond to evade capture, ultimately drowning the cook in the pond. "The Golden Goose" follows the youngest son, Dunderhead, who, unlike his stingy brothers, shares his meager provisions with a mysterious Gray Man. This kindness rewards him with a golden goose that attracts a growing procession of townspeople, culminating in his marriage to a King's daughter who laughs at the spectacle. "Mother Holle" contrasts the industrious girl, who is rewarded with a shower of gold after helping an old woman in a magical realm, with her lazy, cruel sister who faces punishment. Finally, "Maid Maleen" depicts a princess imprisoned in a dark tower for seven years by her father. She is eventually rescued by her betrothed, who proves her identity against a false bride through secret conversations with objects along their journey. These tales explore enduring themes of greed, kindness, perseverance, and the consequences of one's actions, delivered in a style that retains the original's quaint charm and poetic depth.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/52521.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg52521.epub

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2026-07-06 12:17 UTC

Categories

• Fairy Tales
• Children's stories