Selected Tales (Penguin Classics)

Rating:
Summary: A decent collection of these famous stories
Review: This book does not contain all of the Grimms' stories, but it does include a wide selection (sixtyish) of the most famous and most interesting tales. There were many more stories, of course, but the editor of this edition has chosen some of the most well-known and representative ones. In addition, there are many tales included that aren't necessarily famous but are just as good as the familiar ones.

The book opens with an interesting introduction, which shows how the Grimms were the first to seriously record folk wonder tales in a literary form, putting them in good prose but still maintaining respect for the original stories. (The earlier French writers drew on folktales, but altered them into tales of courtly intrigue, and sometimes told them in a snickering, sarcastic style.) Then, of course, come the tales themselves, well-written and yet hauntingly simple.

Note: This is an edition for the grown-ups. No illustrations. Visually, it looks like a textbook rather than a book of fairy tales. I do need to buy a pretty edition someday, to pass on to my hypothetical kids. :)

Rating:
Summary: A decent collection of these famous stories
Review: This book does not contain all of the Grimms' stories, but it does include a wide selection (sixtyish) of the most famous and most interesting tales. There were many more stories, of course, but the editor of this edition has chosen some of the most well-known and representative ones. In addition, there are many tales included that aren't necessarily famous but are just as good as the familiar ones.

The book opens with an interesting introduction, which shows how the Grimms were the first to seriously record folk wonder tales in a literary form, putting them in good prose but still maintaining respect for the original stories. (The earlier French writers drew on folktales, but altered them into tales of courtly intrigue, and sometimes told them in a snickering, sarcastic style.) Then, of course, come the tales themselves, well-written and yet hauntingly simple.

Note: This is an edition for the grown-ups. No illustrations. Visually, it looks like a textbook rather than a book of fairy tales. I do need to buy a pretty edition someday, to pass on to my hypothetical kids. :)