The hard facts of the Grimms' fairy tales
by Maria Tatar
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Description
Murder, mutilation, cannibalism, infanticide, and incest: the darker side of classic fairy tales is the subject of this groundbreaking and intriguing study of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm's Nursery and Household Tales. This expanded edition includes a new preface and an appendix featuring translations of six tales with commentary by Maria Tatar. Throughout the book, Tatar draws on the disciplinary tools of psychoanalysis and folklore while also providing historical context to explore the harsher show more aspects of these stories, presenting new interpretations of tales that engage in a kind of cultural repetition compulsion. No other book so thoroughly challenges us to rethink the happily-ever-after of these classic stories. show lessTags
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This is a great book for any one interested in the psychology of fairy tales. Putting aside the subject matter, this book was just absurdly well written. Maria Tatar, evil genius.
A look at the classic Grimm Brothers fairy tales in their uncensored form tracing their transformation from adult reading material to the watered-down tales that many of us first heard as children.
A look at the classic Grimm Brothers fairy tales in their uncensored form tracing their transformation from adult reading material to the watered-down tales that many of us first heard as children.
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Academic Studies of Fairy Tales and Folklore
28 works; 6 members
Author Information
22+ Works 4,757 Members
Maria Tatar is the John L. Loeb Professor of Germanic Languages and Literatures at Harvard University. Her many books include Off with Their Heads! Fairy Tales and the Culture of Childhood and Lustmord: Sexual Murder in Weimar Germany (both Princeton).
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- The hard facts of the Grimms' fairy tales
- Original title
- The hard facts of the Grimms' fairy tales
- Original publication date
- 1987
- First words
- For many adults, reading through an unexpurgated edition of the Grimms' collection of tales can be an eye-opening experience.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)The stories have taken hold for a far more important reason: the hard facts of fairy-tale life offer exaggerated visions of the grimmer realities and fantasies that touch and shape the lives of every child and adult.
- Original language
- English
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Literature Studies and Criticism, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 398.210943 — Society, Government, and Culture Customs, etiquette & folklore Folklore & Folktales Folk literature Fairy Tales Fairy tales by place Fairy tales of Europe Fairy Tales of Germany and Central Europe
- LCC
- PT921 .T38 — Language and Literature German, Dutch and Scandinavian literatures German literature Folk literature
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 418
- Popularity
- 73,615
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (4.08)
- Languages
- Chinese, English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 8
- ASINs
- 3
