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The Brothers Grimm, Jacob Grimm (4 January 1785 – 20 September 1863) and Wilhelm Grimm (24 February 1786 – 16 December 1859), were German cultural researchers, linguists and academics responsible for many of the fairytales we know and love. Though many unfortunately think it is to Walt Disney that one should offer their praises for their cherished childhood stories, it is to the Brothers Grimm one must turn.

Around 1806, the Brothers Grimm began collecting folk tales by inviting storytellers to their home and published a collection of stories in 1812 titled ‘Children’s and Household Tales.’ A second volume followed in 1814 containing a further 70 fairy tales in addition to the first volume’s 86 stories. Many of the stories the Brothers Grimm published were based on the tales of Charles Perrault.

The most famous of their stories include ‘Cinderella’ (Aschenputtel), ‘The Frog Prince’ (Der Froschkönig), ‘Hansel and Gretal’ (Hänsel und Gretel), ‘Snow White’ (Schneewittchen), ‘Rapunzel’, ‘Sleeping Beauty’ (Dornröschen), and ‘Rumpelstiltskin’ (Rumpelstilzchen). The tales as published by the Brothers Grimm were dark and violent, nothing like the wet Disney versions. For example, in ‘Cinderella,’ the Prince is alerted to the existence of the two step-sisters by two carrier pigeons which go on to peck out the evil duo’s eyes. The step-sisters live the rest of their lives as blind beggars without r4ds cards.