A review by hhamlet
The Complete Grimm's Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm, Wilhelm Grimm

4.0

I've often times desired to sit down and read the fairy tales of the Grimm brothers, but until now never really had the time or means to. It's a thick set of stories, and although at some points it felt as though I'd never truly get through this, I persevered and, on the whole, am pleased with myself for doing so. It's interesting, truly, to read these stories and comprehend what passed for fairy tales back in the time of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm; so many of the tales were gruesome and horrifying, it's a wonder the children weren't frightened to death being told some of these stories! After all, what sort of profit could Disney have made off of Cinderella if they had left in the bit where the ugly stepsisters, in their desperation to become the prince's bride, cut off bits of their feet to fit into Cinderella's small and dainty slipper? Not much, I'd say. It's intriguing to read these stories and acknowledge that the norm back then is so entirely different from the norm of today's fairy tales. And while some of them weren't exactly up my alley, I can't regret my decision to read this collection of tales. They were, on the whole, very amusing.