A new book of fairy tales by Philip Pullman? Yes, please. Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm: A New English Version is an amazing book, but in surprising ways. If you expected a book of fairy tales from the author of His Dark Materials to be full of new yarns or clever, twisted retellings of traditional Brothers Grimm stories, you’re going to be disappointed. Pullman actually gives fairly direct renditions of stories like “Rapunzel” and “Cinderella” (not the Disney versions — there are blinded princes and mutilated feet in these stories). He also includes many stories that have fallen out of popularity, like “The Donkey Cabbage” and “The Girl with No Hands.” But overall, this is a wonderful book of fairy tales for adults who love to read.
Now, Pullman insists that this isn’t intended to be canonical text. It can’t be. The stories come from traditional folk tales and oral traditions, and it’s translated into English, so that adds a further layer of interpretation. He further borrows from other sources, so this isn’t a strict interpretation, even though it feels very much like one. The tone seemed just about right for the stories, however. A neutral storyteller telling the deeds, both good and evil — and the consequences. If you want to read the stories to each other or to your children, you can do so. (I’d suggest pre-reading.) Better yet, read the story and then retell it orally and without reference, the way folk stories were intended to be told. The poor mouse may not always have to be eaten by the cat.
The book provides wonderful context for each story, which is probably the biggest reason I love it. After each story, Pullman has extensive commentary, including historical context for interpreting the story, similar stories, and notes about common variations. A lot of tales have changed over time, and how we view them can be very different from how contemporaries did. “Rapunzel,” for instance, was changed from the original story, where parsley was the sought-after herb. The significance is that parsley was believed at the time to induce abortions. That certainly puts a new twist on why Rapunzel’s parents would agree to exchange a baby to a witch in exchange for something from the garden.
Overall, this book is crack for library nerds, historians, and fairy tale fans. You’ll devour it. It’s a wonderful way to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the original publication by The Brothers Grimm. I recommend buying it on e-book and reading it from a tablet, because that’s technology that still has a touch of magic.
Full disclosure: a review (printed) copy of this book was provided.
