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I post on Monday with an occasional random blog thrown in for good measure. I do my best to answer all comments via email and visit around on the days I post.

Saturday, April 7, 2012

G is for Grimm



For this, my third year doing the challenge, I am going literary. For every letter of the alphabet I will talk about a book, an author or a character from fiction or myth that made an impression, was inspirational, or caused me to think.





Where would we be without the Brothers Grimm? How many people realize that the TV shows Once Upon and Time and Grimm  would not exist (not to mention all the other adaptations of fairy tales) were it not for these two men, who collected over 200 hundred oral stories. Let us pay our respects and give homage.

GrimmOne of the most precious books I have (given to me by Charlotte) is Little Brother and Little Sister and Other Tales by the Brothers Grimm, published in 1917 and illustrated by Arthur Rackham. The thick pages are brittle with age and have a heavy musty smell that makes me sneeze. I rarely open it for fear of further damaging what is already damaged. It was not printed on acid free paper.

Within the brown and mottled pages are stories with titles like: Sweet Porridge, Thumbling's Travels, The Star-Money, The True Sweetheart, Hans The Hedgehog, The Nose Tree, Fitcher's Bird, and The Nix of the Mill-Pond.






Altogether there are 40 stories filled with line drawings like this one from The Spirit in the Tree.
 And these beautiful color plates. From, Snow-White and Rose-Red
From, The Old Woman in the Wood


 From, The Three Little Men in the Wood
Every time I look at these pictures, I am transported. Do you have a favorite Grimm story?

G is for The Brothers Grimm  Other G influences: George Gurdjieff, Green Mansions by W.H. Hudson

25 comments:

  1. The illustrations are wonderful. Know you will always treasure this book. Thanx for sharing.

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  2. These are really wonderful. It is amazing how these stories have lived and continue to be passed down and adapted.

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  3. Bish, wonderful! I was trying to decide which of the drawings were my favorite but I can't...love the men in the tree as well as the old woman...super G word!

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  4. Haha, awesome. Love the Grimm brothers. Their versions of fairy tales are WAY cooler than Disney's. Awesome post.

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  5. I love the programme Grimm. I just never realised the Grimm brothers wrote so many stories!

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  6. Those drawings are wonderful. They do an amazing job complementing the stories.

    I know I've read many of their stories, but I'd like to read the full collection one day.

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  7. Aren't these gorgeous? I was particularly taken by the Old Woman in the Woods. Lovely and elegant. I always loved the Cinderella story. I wanted to be the girl who turned into a princess with the glass slipper.

    Lovely G day post, Bish.

    Thanks for great comment about your mom being the Goddess of your choice. That was wonderful to read.

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  8. Aren't these gorgeous? I was particularly taken by the Old Woman in the Woods. Lovely and elegant. I always loved the Cinderella story. I wanted to be the girl who turned into a princess with the glass slipper.

    Lovely G day post, Bish.

    Thanks for great comment about your mom being the Goddess of your choice. That was wonderful to read.

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  9. I'd be afraid to open that book as well. You have a real treasure there.

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  10. Grimm thought, a world without the brothers, that would be.

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  11. I love Rackham illustrations! Another wonderful post.

    My two favorite Grimm stories are Snow White and Rose Red, and Faithful John.

    Erin

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  12. Love what you're doing with this year's A to Z challenge, Bish! Those illustrations alone are fabulous!

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  13. Those illustrations are extraordinary! What a GEM!!!!!!! Love The Brothers Grimm! Pooh on Disney. The Grimm got it going on!

    Happy Resurrection Day, pal. (((hugs)))

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  14. I so love those illustrations...thank you for sharing. I am a HUGE fan of the new Once Upon a Time show. I love the way they are weaving the story with the present day.

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  15. Brothers Grimm! Boy I so agree! We owe these grandfathers of fairy tale so much!

    Great choice.

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  16. Those two brothers told pretty grimm stories, as I recall. Not much in terms of joy and lightness.

    But maybe I only remember the grim parts.

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  17. Such wonderful photos. I like the tree man.

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  18. Oh Bish, what beautiful beautiful drawings.

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  19. What a wonderful theme for A to Z! My favorite Grimm story is Cinderella when the step sister cuts off part of her foot to make the shoe fit...it must have been a stiletto!

    Happy A to Z, and I'm a new follower...

    www.diaryofasquaretoothedgirl.blogspot.com

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  20. Bish, what a wonderful idea to do a book for each letter of the alphabet.

    And to think this is your 3rd year doing the A-Zer! You deserve a medal. I was going to take a leap and join the fun this year, but then with my darling Dad passing...:( :(

    Well, next year! I'm still pretty quiet on the net, but just wanted to pop in and say HI! and see how you're doing!

    Good luck with your challenge!
    Judy, South Africa

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  21. Those illustrations are fabulous! Is the Snow Queen a Grimm tale? I really like that one.

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  22. Awesome pictures, Bish. I particularly like the second to last one. Can't say I have a particular favourite, but then it's been so long...

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  23. Beautiful pictures.
    I think my fav story is Hansel and Gretel. There's something awesome about a cottage made of candy! ;)

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  24. These guys were definitely the forefathers of horror. Their stories still give me the shivers.

    Love the photos.

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Your Random Thoughts are most welcome!