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A review by somesuchlike
Grimm Tales for Young and Old by Philip Pullman
4.0
Pullman retells a broad selection of stories from the Brothers Grimm's collection and ends each one with a brief analysis. All of the classic Grimm fairy tales are here - Cinderella, Briar Rose, Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel - in something reasonably close to their original forms, together with more obscure stories like the Juniper Tree and the Golden Bird.
The analyses were, for me, what made the book really worth reading. This is a much more thorough and academic collection than I anticipated. Pullman analyses each story as a folk tale, giving its Aarne-Thomson classification, details of its collection by the Brothers Grimm, and comparisons with similar stories, and also as a narrative. He talks about the quality and clarity of each narrative and his reasons for any alterations. It's fascinating stuff, especially coming from a master storyteller.
Thoroughly recommended to anyone with an interest in folklore or narrative - or both.
The analyses were, for me, what made the book really worth reading. This is a much more thorough and academic collection than I anticipated. Pullman analyses each story as a folk tale, giving its Aarne-Thomson classification, details of its collection by the Brothers Grimm, and comparisons with similar stories, and also as a narrative. He talks about the quality and clarity of each narrative and his reasons for any alterations. It's fascinating stuff, especially coming from a master storyteller.
Thoroughly recommended to anyone with an interest in folklore or narrative - or both.