You never need an excuse for cake, but today, there is an excellent reason for one…the birthday of philologist, mythologist, and librarian, Jacob Grimm.
Born in 1785 in Hanau, Germany, Jacob was the elder of the two Grimm brothers (Wilhelm was born about year later). He went to University to study law, but, like the best kind of academics, he found learning far more fun that actually finding a job. It was thanks to a mentor, a famous professor of Roman law, who taught our young Jacob the scientific method of research, which involved deep, historic research to plumb not only all the mysteries of a topic, but also the origin of those mysteries. Jacob ended up turning his love of study to linguistics, and German literature of the Middle Ages, moving to Paris with his mentor to study in all their libraries (tough life, eh?).
He returned to Germany to be with his family, and, following his mother’s death in 1808, and was he was appointed superintendent of the private library of Jérôme Bonaparte, who had been placed in charge by his brother, Napoleon I. In this position, Jacob was responsible for traveling to Paris to demand the return of books that had been seized by the French Army, which may indeed have set the record for the farthest distance traveled by a librarian to recover overdue books….
From this point on, Jacob and his brother insisted on joint appointments, whether as Librarians or Professors, so that they could continue their joint projects. Though Jacob made some deeply significant findings of his own in linguistics, it was this work with his brother that earned both of them lasting fame. Their Deutsche Mythologie, published in 1835, was a generally encyclopedic study of the mythology and beliefs of Ancient Germanic peoples from the earliest surviving records to their modern iterations and adaptations into fairytales and local folklore. They noted how stories changed based on region and linguistic traditions, providing a fascinating way of tracing oral tradition within a single geographical area. And it is this book that became the basis for the fairytales that we still read today.
The Grimm’s were, essentially, attempting to understand how the world as they knew it, at their present moment, had come to be, and, as a result the stories they wrote down tend to praise things like work, religious devotion, marriage, and money. Hence, the fearful dangers to be found when wandering in the woods, or the danger of sneaking off into the night to dance at a ball, rather than finding a proper husband. Hence the fear of witches, who hold power over the mysterious, and the succession of the millers, and the shoemakers, and the scullery maids, who put in an honest day’s work. But, on the other hand, it is because of the Grimms that our world can hold fairies, or elves, or enchanted songs, or magical spinning wheels. For all the nightmares their stories may have induced, they also gave us dreams, and it is for all of this that we celebrate Jacob’s birthday with these magical suggestions!
The Annotated Brothers Grimm: For those looking to start at the beginning, here is a superb collection of Grimm’s Fairytales, in all their gory, surprising, and lovely detail. They are divided by theme, making for a very interesting comparison and study, and includes a marvelous introduction by A.S. Byatt that looks at the Grimms’ place in history, as well as the effects their tales have had on us as a culture.
Shelley Duvall’s Faerie Tale Theatre: These adaptations of classic fairy tales was, quite literally, my favorite thing about the ’80’s. They remain among my favorite things to this day–so much so that I can recite very large portions of each episode. And will do so upon request (you’ve been warned). Originally a Showtime series, these stories are dated in some ways (so much hairspray. so much eyeshadow…), but by and large, they are still terrific, detailed, and thoroughly watchable, even now. Best yet, they feature some surprising guest stars, like Mick Jagger (in The Nightingale) and some pretty well-known directors, like Tim Burton and Francis Ford Coppola.
Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm: A New English Version: In a age where fairytales are adapted, updated, revamped and revised, Philip Pullman bucked tradition–to enormous success. His retellings of the classic tales from the Grimm Brother’s work stick very closely to the originals, bringing out the stark beauty, and sometimes chilling details of the tale they uncovered. He also includes a brief analysis of the story, and how contemporary mythologists understand and classify the story, which is particularly fascinating if, like Jacob Grimm, you think every bit of incidental knowledge is of vital importance.
A Wild Swan: The peerless Lady Pole discussed this book in November, and it’s worth pointing out today that her praise for Michael Cunningham’s adaptations of classic fairytales is wholly deserved. These tales twist and turn in the most outlandish and thought-provoking ways, making the reader conscious of the language and the flow of the story, as much as the plot itself. I can’t help but think that Jacob and Wilhelm would read these stories with glee.
Mythology: Though Edith Hamilton’s study of the stories that humanity tells is over fifty years old, it is still a seminal work in the study of mythology. Hamilton began with the works of Homer, traveling across the western world in search of tales, and retelling them with clarity and obvious passion. Like the Grimms, she is clearly interested in how we, as storytellers, got here today, and why our stories have adapted as they have. Her project is one similar, though far larger in scope, to the Grimms, and one that beautifully complements a study of their work.
