THE BOOKS THAT INSPIRED PROFESSOR TOLKIEN, AUTHOR OF 'THE LORD OF THE RINGS'
With original illustrations as published in Tolkien's lifetime
Home Sources Authors Illustrators For Children
Nibelungs Poetic Edda Glittering Plain Red Fairy Book Princess & Goblin
Eric Brighteyes Ourobouros Book of Wonder King Arthur Grimms Fairy
She Princess & Curdie Return of She Lilac Fairy Book Kalevala

look inside
Grimms' Fairy Tales - Illustrated

The Royal Mint

Grimms' Fairy Tales - A BOOK THAT INSPIRED TOLKIEN

Shop now
 
FREE Shipping on orders over $25 from Amazon.




 

Pages: 332
Format: Paperback
Language: English
Color: Black and White
ISBN: 978-1925110166
Publication Date: 2018
Trim Size: 152mm x 229mm (6" x 9")

Translated by Lucy Crane, illust. Walter Crane, first published 1922

Description

In his essay ‘On Fairy Stories’, Tolkien made specific mention of the brothers Grimm.  Two centuries ago Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm travelled through rural Germany together, collecting and publishing old, traditional folktales. They are now among the most well-known storytellers of German folklore. Their first collection, 'Children's and Household Tales', otherwise known as ‘Grimms’ Fairy Tales’, was published in 1812.

During the nineteenth century Europe, Britain and the British colonies experienced a flowering of Romanticism in the form of art, architecture, poetry, literature, folklore and folk tales. The latter, in particular, played a major role in the development of Tolkien’s Middle-earth mythology.

Tolkien mined the folklore of the Grimm brothers for literary gems. In his essay he mentioned his love of a tale in this collection by the name of ‘The Juniper Tree’, renamed ‘The Almond Tree’ for British audiences. Cecilia Dart-Thornton’s new introduction quotes Tolkien’s own words on the effect of fairy stories on the human mind.

The 1882 English translation of Household Stories was beautifully illustrated by Walter Crane (1845-1915) - an influential member of the Arts and Crafts movement like William Morris, whose works of fantasy were also among Tolkien’s favourites. This new edition, a close replica of the original, contains more than 180 of Crane’s pictures, embellishments  and ornate initials.
‘Certain artists did provide visual sources for Tolkien’s writing, particularly in their illustrations for the fairy tales that so appealed to him.’ So writes Mary Podles in her article ‘Tolkien and the New Art: Visual Sources for “The Lord of the Rings”’.

‘Crane illustrated a version of “Grimm’s Fairy Tales” that may in several instances have inspired specific scenes and incidents in “The Lord of the Rings”. Often Crane added details to his black-and-white illustrations that were not in Grimm, but proved to be the very ones that stuck in Tolkien’s memory and resurfaced in his novel.'

Crane’s illustrations for the fairy tales that Tolkien read as a boy do justice to the richness, strangeness and beauty of the folklore which fired the imagination of the author of ‘The Lord of the Rings’.


 


norton-safe-web McAfee Secure
The Professor’s Bookshelf is brought to you by Leaves of Gold Press, publishers of international, premium quality fiction and non-fiction in hardcover, paperback and ebook format. Our books are printed on high grade, acid-free, book-grade, opaque paper stock sourced from responsibly managed forests. Our printers are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council™, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification™. The Professor's Bookshelf Utilizing POD technology decreases the number of returns and reduces paper waste, thereby cutting down greenhouse emissions and conserving valuable natural resources.

Leaves of Gold Press is in no way affiliated with, or endorsed or sponsored by Tolkien Enterprises or the Estate of J.R.R. Tolkien.
The Professor's Bookshelf is recommended by Chris Clark of The Satiety Diet
paypal secure ssl-secure
Read our terms of business Shop securely with Paypal or our trusted partners Contact us