The Annotated Brothers Grimm: Bicentennial Edition

Fifty-two tales, many well-known and loved, some unfamiliar, and nine specifically for adults, are extensively illustrated with art from the works of Arthur Rackham, Walter Crane, Wanda Gag, Leslie Brooke, and others. Each tale is accompanied by copious annotations that highlight the changes from one Grimm edition to another, views and translations of other scholars, and Tatar's own historical or cultural analysis. The preface, expanded from one and a half pages in the 2004 edition to six pages here, is a discussion of the significance of fairy tales that, through many retellings, have a "shared cultural repertoire." A.S. Byatt's thought-provoking introduction is a personal homage to the genre and discusses the conceits found in the tales, the psychological need in all societies for "untrue stories," and an appreciation of their magic and mystery. The section called "Reading the Grimms" is a look at the origin of the tales, including Asian and European variants, and the brothers' method of collecting. A biographical section includes information about the men's personal lives, their interest in law and politics, and their other literary pursuits. The last section is a delightful compilation of brief essays by fairy-tale fans about the usefulness, delight, and pervasiveness of the tales. Rounding out the collection are an extensive bibliographies of books and illustrations. Academic enough for the scholarly and thoroughly engaging enough for general readers, this browsable collection will enchant fairy-tale lovers everywhere.—Jackie Gropman, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, VA