The Brothers Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm, are known for dozens of iconic fairytales, but researchers have recently discovered 27 more original volumes.
The works were found library at Poland’s in the University Library in Poznan and are believed to have been part of the men’s private collection.
The books contain handwritten notes that could reveal how the brothers chose themes for stories like ‘Hansel and Gretel’ and ‘Rumpelstiltskin.’
The discovery was made by scientists at Poland‘s Adama Mickiewicz University who spent six months analyzing each book with hopes of finding the series thought to have been destroyed in World War II.
The Brothers Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm, are known for dozens of well-known fairytales, but researchers have recently discovered 27 more original volumes
The search lasted almost six months, and the discovery may help to expand research into the authors’ works on the famous fairy tale collection. Pictured is a first edition of Simplicissimus from 1669,
‘The volumes found in the University Library in Poznan from the Grimm brothers’ private book collection, considered lost since the end of the Second World War, may significantly contribute to the growth of contemporary Grimm studies and give hope that the BUP’s collection also contains further items – considered lost – from the private library of Jacob and Wilhelm,’ wrote the researchers this month.
Jacob and Wilhelm, the oldest of six, were born in 1785 and 1786.
They were German academics who began their careers writing folk songs and stories for their friends.
The brothers then dived into critical essays where they found a love of literature and other writing.
As the researchers pointed out, the notes are valuable for research into the Grimms’ legacy, as they can give insight into their working method and choice of themes.
Interestingly, the recovered books contain, in many cases, handwritten notes by Jakub and Wilhelm, who frequently annotated motifs of interest on the book’s cover pages
Jacob and Wilhelm, the oldest of six, were born in 1785 and 1786. They were German academics who began their careers writing folk songs and stories for their friends
The Grimms’ famed collection features legends, novellas and folk stories that have become loved children stories – but the original version have been deemed too dark for their ears.
If you ever had Cinderella read to you as a child, you probably won’t be familiar with this extract – where the stepsisters are urged by their mother to self-mutilate in a bid to marry the prince.
Incidentally, the prince noticed the blood sloshing around in the ‘golden’ slipper, thus thwarting their ugly scheming.
And the dark theme can be found in nearly all of their stories.
The books date from the 1700s to 1800s and feature new fairytales not ever read by the public until now, such as a tale about a valiant knight and a princess name Magelona.
The books date from the 1700s to 1800s and feature new fairytales not ever read by the public until now, such as a tale about a valiant knight and a princess name Magelona
In the footnotes and indexes are notes explaining why the brothers chose the themes, sourced material and other annotations
But the latest collection found in the library could reveal why the brothers chose such ideas for their works.
In the footnotes and indexes are notes explaining why the brothers chose the themes, sourced material and other annotations.
‘The volumes found in the University Library were long thought to have been lost during WWII,’ the researchers shared.
‘They hold significant value in their contribution to the development of modern research on the Brothers’ literary and scientific output.
‘The very fact that they have been found allows us to believe that the book collections at the Library can hold other volumes that belonged to the private book collection of Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm.’
