Brothers grimm fairy tales illustrations

On 20 December 1812, the Brothers Grimm published the first volume of their famous fairy tales, entitled Kinder- und Hausmärchen which translates as Children’s and Household Tales, but which is popularly known as Grimms’ Fairy Tales.

Brothers Jacob (1785–1863) and Wilhelm (1786–1859) Grimm grew up in Hesse, in the heart of Germany.

Brothers grimm fairy tales illustrations

Still one of the greenest areas of the country, during the Grimms’ childhood it was even more heavily-wooded than today. While it was no doubt a fertile breeding ground for the fairytale imagination, the 86 tales of the first volume that were collected and told by the brothers had origins that were shrouded in the mists of time.

Many came from Germany but there were others tale that came from France and Italy.

For more than two centuries the stories have been a familiar part of the fabric of popular culture and literature. There have been countless editions, var