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Iron John
With help of Iron John, the wild man of the forest who is under a curse, a young prince makes his way in the world and finds his true love
32 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1812
95 people want to read
About the author
Eric A. Kimmel
160 books111 followersEric A. Kimmel is an American author of more than 150 children's books. His works include Caldecott Honor Book Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins (illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman), Sydney Taylor Book Award winners The Chanukkah Guest and Gershon's Monster, and Simon and the Bear: A Hanukkah Tale.
Kimmel was born in Brooklyn, New York and earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from Lafayette College in 1967, a master's degree from New York University, and a PhD in Education from the University of Illinois in 1973. He taught at Indiana University at South Bend, and at Portland State University, where he is Professor Emeritus of Education.
Kimmel lives with his wife, Doris, in Portland, Oregon.
Kimmel was born in Brooklyn, New York and earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from Lafayette College in 1967, a master's degree from New York University, and a PhD in Education from the University of Illinois in 1973. He taught at Indiana University at South Bend, and at Portland State University, where he is Professor Emeritus of Education.
Kimmel lives with his wife, Doris, in Portland, Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 21, 2020
When a king with a fabulous menagerie captures a wild man from the wood, 'Iron John' - so named for the wild, iron-colored hair that covers him - becomes the much-feared prize of his collection. Playing with his golden ball one day, the king's son Walter must ask Iron John for help, and he frees the wild man in return. Together the two escape, and Walter is raised by Iron John in the deep forest, where he (Walter) is tasked with protecting a magical spring. After three failures in this duty, he must leave the wood, and finds employment in the gardens of a nearby king (presumably not his father). Here he eventually finds himself attending a ball and a knights' tournament in disguise, with the help of Iron John, and riding off to rescue the king's three daughters. Walter's actions help to free Iron John, who is himself a king suffering under a curse (naturally), and he finds his true love in the process...
A German fairy-tale originally found in the Brothers Grimm, where is was known as Eisenhans ("Iron Hans"), Iron John is here adapted and retold by prolific picture-book author and folklorist Eric A. Kimmel, and illustrated by the marvelous Trina Schart Hyman. This version of the story is somewhat different from that found in Grimm, in that the beginning portion of the tale, detailing Iron John's capture, is abbreviated. Also, the ending has been changed, and Walter (named by Kimmel) ends up marrying his fellow gardener, rather than one of the princesses. Kimmel discusses these changes in his brief afterword, mentioning that it had always bothered him that one of the princesses should have the noble prince, after sneering at him when he was a lowly gardener. I certainly cannot fault his reasoning there! This story was immensely engaging, and the artwork (unsurprisingly) was gorgeous. Highly recommended to all fairy-tale lovers, and to fellow fans of Hyman's artwork.
A German fairy-tale originally found in the Brothers Grimm, where is was known as Eisenhans ("Iron Hans"), Iron John is here adapted and retold by prolific picture-book author and folklorist Eric A. Kimmel, and illustrated by the marvelous Trina Schart Hyman. This version of the story is somewhat different from that found in Grimm, in that the beginning portion of the tale, detailing Iron John's capture, is abbreviated. Also, the ending has been changed, and Walter (named by Kimmel) ends up marrying his fellow gardener, rather than one of the princesses. Kimmel discusses these changes in his brief afterword, mentioning that it had always bothered him that one of the princesses should have the noble prince, after sneering at him when he was a lowly gardener. I certainly cannot fault his reasoning there! This story was immensely engaging, and the artwork (unsurprisingly) was gorgeous. Highly recommended to all fairy-tale lovers, and to fellow fans of Hyman's artwork.
September 25, 2020
3/5 Stars (%63/100)
Iron Hans or Iron John is a fairy tale by Grimm brothers. It is tale number 136 and about a wild man and a prince. According to the Aarne-Thompson-Uther Index (ATU Index), it is type 502 in other words “the wild man as a helper.” The story is also analysed as a boy maturing into adulthood. I agree that the story is very similar to novels which are considered to be bildungsroman. Though I have not read this tale before, it was really easy to follow since we are familiar with this structure and characters. The story is about a wild man who is imprisoned for years until a young prince sets him free. Iron Hans is revealed to be a very powerful with certain powers. The prince, at first, fails Iron Hans’s test but later he proves himself worthy. In the end, the prince marries the princess and is reunited with his parents. Iron Hans also looks normal because we learn that he needed someone worthy to free him from an enchantment. The story reminded me of Enkidu and Gilgamesh. Enkidu is a wild man who is sent by the gods to discipline Gilgamesh. Similar to the prince, Gilgamesh is also royalty and a man of power. The two become friends and the wild man Enkidu becomes a civilized man. I believe Grimm brothers was inspired by this ancient story and created a modern version of it. The prince symbolizes the innocence of the child while Iron Hans is the perfect example of male power and masculinity. The key to the cage is hidden under the queen’s pillow and it can also be referred that the prince is finally leaving her mother and growing up. In the end, the prince is a now man with experience and knowledge enough to let him marry the princess. Though there are many variations of the tale, the ending and the message is more or less the same.
Iron Hans or Iron John is a fairy tale by Grimm brothers. It is tale number 136 and about a wild man and a prince. According to the Aarne-Thompson-Uther Index (ATU Index), it is type 502 in other words “the wild man as a helper.” The story is also analysed as a boy maturing into adulthood. I agree that the story is very similar to novels which are considered to be bildungsroman. Though I have not read this tale before, it was really easy to follow since we are familiar with this structure and characters. The story is about a wild man who is imprisoned for years until a young prince sets him free. Iron Hans is revealed to be a very powerful with certain powers. The prince, at first, fails Iron Hans’s test but later he proves himself worthy. In the end, the prince marries the princess and is reunited with his parents. Iron Hans also looks normal because we learn that he needed someone worthy to free him from an enchantment. The story reminded me of Enkidu and Gilgamesh. Enkidu is a wild man who is sent by the gods to discipline Gilgamesh. Similar to the prince, Gilgamesh is also royalty and a man of power. The two become friends and the wild man Enkidu becomes a civilized man. I believe Grimm brothers was inspired by this ancient story and created a modern version of it. The prince symbolizes the innocence of the child while Iron Hans is the perfect example of male power and masculinity. The key to the cage is hidden under the queen’s pillow and it can also be referred that the prince is finally leaving her mother and growing up. In the end, the prince is a now man with experience and knowledge enough to let him marry the princess. Though there are many variations of the tale, the ending and the message is more or less the same.
August 21, 2015
I LOVE THIS BOOK. It has long been one of my very favorite children's books for several reasons. 1) Trina Schart Hyman illustrated it, so DUH. 2) I just think Eric Kimmel has a way with words that resonates with me. Subtle humor, nice pacing, lovely filling in of characters that could easily fall flat. My only complaint is that I wish he'd write longer books. ;) 3) The titular character is left wonderfully mysterious in a way that both drove me NUTS as a kid (because I just wanted to KNOOOOOOOOOOW) but left the door WIDE OPEN for my own imagination. The mark of a truly great children's book, perhaps. 4) Elsa and Walter forever. <3 5) I'm a bit of a fairy tale snob and I like that this is one of those tales that hasn't been retold so many times that it's now a cliché.
June 7, 2017
Mr. Kimmel dispenses with the opening of this Grimm fairy tale, in which a curious king has his people capture and pen a dangerous man living wild in the forest. That part of the story is displayed by Trina Hyman’s vivid illustrations, which begin on the title page and continue through the dedication to the opening paragraph. She also displays a greedy king’s delight in odd acquisitions with a couple of cages near that of Iron John, one holding a curious giraffe.
The story proceeds in familiar fashion as little prince Walter impulsively helps Iron John escape in exchange for getting back his golden ball after it falls into the wild man’s cage. You wonder why a prince would fear punishment so much that he would go off with a stranger who looks more like a beast than a human being. But such concerns vanish as we see a civilized boy turn to forest living as if he’d been born to it.
The gorgeous illustrations pull you into a world of primeval greenery, with ancient trees overshadowing a mysterious stream so dark it looks like a cloudless, starless sky. Ms. Hyman’s distinctive illustrations are matted and with softened edges so that a man becomes like a ghost and a garden bursts with flowers that seem about to fall out of the page and into the reader’s lap.
There is at times a lack of passion in fairy tales. Walter grows up to be strong, tall and healthy in Iron John’s shadowy world. It states that he loves Iron John like a father but he shows no grief at leaving him only fear that he’ll fail in the tasks that he’s been set. He never speaks of love to his intended bride either; it’s just taken as a given.
The story takes a sharp turn from Grimm’s original story as young Walter makes a startling choice for his bride-to-be. Mr. Kimmel evidently sees love as something belonging to the worthy and not necessarily because of elevated status, royal lineage or gorgeous looks.
But it is Iron John who remains an captivating figure in spite of his cryptic revelation near the end of the story. Ms. Hyman’s depictions make him appear to be a creature out of myth. His massively wavy hair actually becomes horns as the story progresses. Is he Cernunnos, the Celtic horned god? If so, his teaching of Walter in the ways of the woodland acquires a deeper meaning than a mere story for children.
This is a glorious picture book, one that would be a guilty pleasure for adults as well as a story for little girls and boys. Consider adding it to your collection.
The story proceeds in familiar fashion as little prince Walter impulsively helps Iron John escape in exchange for getting back his golden ball after it falls into the wild man’s cage. You wonder why a prince would fear punishment so much that he would go off with a stranger who looks more like a beast than a human being. But such concerns vanish as we see a civilized boy turn to forest living as if he’d been born to it.
The gorgeous illustrations pull you into a world of primeval greenery, with ancient trees overshadowing a mysterious stream so dark it looks like a cloudless, starless sky. Ms. Hyman’s distinctive illustrations are matted and with softened edges so that a man becomes like a ghost and a garden bursts with flowers that seem about to fall out of the page and into the reader’s lap.
There is at times a lack of passion in fairy tales. Walter grows up to be strong, tall and healthy in Iron John’s shadowy world. It states that he loves Iron John like a father but he shows no grief at leaving him only fear that he’ll fail in the tasks that he’s been set. He never speaks of love to his intended bride either; it’s just taken as a given.
The story takes a sharp turn from Grimm’s original story as young Walter makes a startling choice for his bride-to-be. Mr. Kimmel evidently sees love as something belonging to the worthy and not necessarily because of elevated status, royal lineage or gorgeous looks.
But it is Iron John who remains an captivating figure in spite of his cryptic revelation near the end of the story. Ms. Hyman’s depictions make him appear to be a creature out of myth. His massively wavy hair actually becomes horns as the story progresses. Is he Cernunnos, the Celtic horned god? If so, his teaching of Walter in the ways of the woodland acquires a deeper meaning than a mere story for children.
This is a glorious picture book, one that would be a guilty pleasure for adults as well as a story for little girls and boys. Consider adding it to your collection.
November 16, 2019
4.5- This is the first time I’ve read this tale, but I love it! Eric Kimmel says he had to cut down the original story because it was so long, he gave a few characters names, and he also changed the ending (which I agree with wholeheartedly).
November 16, 2017
Made some changes to the original tale, but the changes were well-integrated and not jarring at all. Lovely illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman.
August 26, 2018
T.S.H.!!!
January 19, 2019
A strange tale, but went over well with the Kindergartners.
March 30, 2019
Wanted to like this more
Too long illustrations are too dark
Should have been abridged more
Too long illustrations are too dark
Should have been abridged more
November 17, 2019
I concur; fie on haughty princesses.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2019
Love Kimmel's ending best!
February 21, 2023
Wonderful illustration
June 7, 2017
Mr. Kimmel dispenses with the opening of this Grimm fairy tale, in which a curious king has his people capture and pen a dangerous man living wild in the forest. That part of the story is displayed by Trina Hyman’s vivid illustrations, which begin on the title page and continue through the dedication to the opening paragraph. She also displays a greedy king’s delight in odd acquisitions with a couple of cages near that of Iron John, one holding a curious giraffe.
The story proceeds in familiar fashion as little prince Walter impulsively helps Iron John escape in exchange for getting back his golden ball after it falls into the wild man’s cage. You wonder why a prince would fear punishment so much that he would go off with a stranger who looks more like a beast than a human being. But such concerns vanish as we see a civilized boy turn to forest living as if he’d been born to it.
The gorgeous illustrations pull you into a world of primeval greenery, with ancient trees overshadowing a mysterious stream so dark it looks like a cloudless, starless sky. Ms. Hyman’s distinctive illustrations are matted and with softened edges so that a man becomes like a ghost and a garden bursts with flowers that seem about to fall out of the page and into the reader’s lap.
There is at times a lack of passion in fairy tales. Walter grows up to be strong, tall and healthy in Iron John’s shadowy world. It states that he loves Iron John like a father but he shows no grief at leaving him only fear that he’ll fail in the tasks that he’s been set. He never speaks of love to his intended bride either; it’s just taken as a given.
The story takes a sharp turn from Grimm’s original story as young Walter makes a startling choice for his bride-to-be. Mr. Kimmel evidently sees love as something belonging to the worthy and not necessarily because of elevated status, royal lineage or gorgeous looks.
But it is Iron John who remains an captivating figure in spite of his cryptic revelation near the end of the story. Ms. Hyman’s depictions make him appear to be a creature out of myth. His massively wavy hair actually becomes horns as the story progresses. Is he Cernunnos, the Celtic horned god? If so, his teaching of Walter in the ways of the woodland acquires a deeper meaning than a mere story for children.
This is a glorious picture book, one that would be a guilty pleasure for adults as well as a story for little girls and boys. Consider adding it to your collection.
The story proceeds in familiar fashion as little prince Walter impulsively helps Iron John escape in exchange for getting back his golden ball after it falls into the wild man’s cage. You wonder why a prince would fear punishment so much that he would go off with a stranger who looks more like a beast than a human being. But such concerns vanish as we see a civilized boy turn to forest living as if he’d been born to it.
The gorgeous illustrations pull you into a world of primeval greenery, with ancient trees overshadowing a mysterious stream so dark it looks like a cloudless, starless sky. Ms. Hyman’s distinctive illustrations are matted and with softened edges so that a man becomes like a ghost and a garden bursts with flowers that seem about to fall out of the page and into the reader’s lap.
There is at times a lack of passion in fairy tales. Walter grows up to be strong, tall and healthy in Iron John’s shadowy world. It states that he loves Iron John like a father but he shows no grief at leaving him only fear that he’ll fail in the tasks that he’s been set. He never speaks of love to his intended bride either; it’s just taken as a given.
The story takes a sharp turn from Grimm’s original story as young Walter makes a startling choice for his bride-to-be. Mr. Kimmel evidently sees love as something belonging to the worthy and not necessarily because of elevated status, royal lineage or gorgeous looks.
But it is Iron John who remains an captivating figure in spite of his cryptic revelation near the end of the story. Ms. Hyman’s depictions make him appear to be a creature out of myth. His massively wavy hair actually becomes horns as the story progresses. Is he Cernunnos, the Celtic horned god? If so, his teaching of Walter in the ways of the woodland acquires a deeper meaning than a mere story for children.
This is a glorious picture book, one that would be a guilty pleasure for adults as well as a story for little girls and boys. Consider adding it to your collection.
July 9, 2012
Iron John/Hans was always a weird Grimm's tale. This version cleans it up a little bit, gives it a bit more a clear narrative arc rather than the haphazard collection of patched-together local German tales it was. Has an obvious modernization in the character of the garden girl Elsa-- back in the day, haughty princesses who became nice once a man was rich were not considered a bad thing, so it struck me as pretty obvious that granting Elsa the prince as reward for True Love was an update. Illustrations are a little different than her usual style but are rich, dark, medieval, and lushly fantastic.
September 13, 2015
A charming telling of a story that in the original Grimm version is not so attractive. I really like the story as told here and hope to share it with my son. Why are the fairy tales of young men going to seek their fortunes no longer told? Yes, there's a certain lack of agency here (the child runs away with Iron Hans because he is afraid his father will disown him for letting Iron Hans out), but still, it's a good story, with good protagonists. A fitting book to pair with/against the Cinderella stories...
November 4, 2014
This was a very different story that bordered on strange. There are so many facets and a depth not usually found in other Grimm fairytales. I enjoyed the story because it seemed atypical rather than the norm. I did expect an iron man because the name of the story, and was quite surprised that it didn't have anything to do with iron other than being strong and wild. This would be a fun story to see adapted to film.
July 2, 2009
Picture Book- A fantastic tale about a young prince who is raised by a big foot practically and has to guard a secret spring. He goes through trials and rescues the garden girl instead of the three most fairest princesses.
April 5, 2022
Adapted from a Brothers Grimm tale, this is the story of a wild man who raises a prince as his son. According to the blurb, in this book, Tricia Schart Hyman first used oil paints to illustrate the story. These illustrations have sort of a textured, fuzzy look, and cover the entire page.
October 19, 2009
Mommy says: If were wondering what all the fuss was about with Robert Bly's Iron John, this would be a good primer. Also a good fairy tale.
February 1, 2013
Nice illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman, but I wish that the cover art had been less dark & spooky. The end is a new twist on the old version of the tale, as explained in the Author's Note.
December 28, 2014
I liked this story a lot because of the ending. I don't want to give it away, but Walter definitely ends up with the right girl. Illustrations aren't my favorite ever, but not bad either.
June 28, 2011
Fun pictures and a fun story. My son was interested.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews