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Grimm Tales
In this beautiful book of classic fairy tales, award-winning author Philip Pullman has chosen his fifty favourite stories from the Brothers Grimm and presents them in a'clear as water' retelling, in his unique and brilliant voice.
From the quests and romance of classics such as 'Rapunzel', 'Snow White' and 'Cinderella' to the danger and wit of such lesser-known tales as 'The Three Snake Leaves', 'Hans-my-Hedgehog' and 'Godfather Death', Pullman brings the heart of each timeless tale to the fore, following with a brief but fascinating commentary on the story's background and history. In his introduction, he discusses how these stories have lasted so long, and become part of our collective storytelling imagination.
These new versions show the adventures at their most lucid and engaging yet. Pullman's Grimm Tales of wicked wives, brave children and villainous kings will have you reading, reading aloud and rereading them for many years to come.
From the quests and romance of classics such as 'Rapunzel', 'Snow White' and 'Cinderella' to the danger and wit of such lesser-known tales as 'The Three Snake Leaves', 'Hans-my-Hedgehog' and 'Godfather Death', Pullman brings the heart of each timeless tale to the fore, following with a brief but fascinating commentary on the story's background and history. In his introduction, he discusses how these stories have lasted so long, and become part of our collective storytelling imagination.
These new versions show the adventures at their most lucid and engaging yet. Pullman's Grimm Tales of wicked wives, brave children and villainous kings will have you reading, reading aloud and rereading them for many years to come.
- GenresFantasy
11 pages, Audiobook
First published December 1, 2003
About the author
Philip Pullman
269 books26.1k followersSir Philip Nicholas Outram Pullman is an English writer. His books include the fantasy trilogy His Dark Materials and The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ, a fictionalised biography of Jesus. In 2008, The Times named Pullman one of the "50 greatest British writers since 1945". In a 2004 BBC poll, he was named the eleventh most influential person in British culture. He was knighted in the 2019 New Year Honours for services to literature.
Northern Lights, the first volume in His Dark Materials, won the 1995 Carnegie Medal of the Library Association as the year's outstanding English-language children's book. For the Carnegie's 70th anniversary, it was named in the top ten by a panel tasked with compiling a shortlist for a public vote for an all-time favourite. It won that public vote and was named all-time "Carnegie of Carnegies" in June 2007. It was filmed under the book's US title, The Golden Compass. In 2003, His Dark Materials trilogy ranked third in the BBC's The Big Read, a poll of 200 top novels voted by the British public.
Northern Lights, the first volume in His Dark Materials, won the 1995 Carnegie Medal of the Library Association as the year's outstanding English-language children's book. For the Carnegie's 70th anniversary, it was named in the top ten by a panel tasked with compiling a shortlist for a public vote for an all-time favourite. It won that public vote and was named all-time "Carnegie of Carnegies" in June 2007. It was filmed under the book's US title, The Golden Compass. In 2003, His Dark Materials trilogy ranked third in the BBC's The Big Read, a poll of 200 top novels voted by the British public.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 2, 2026
3*
this audiobook version is wonderfully performed by sam west - i don't think i could have endured all 10+ hours otherwise - but it's really rather dry and repetitive in content.
philip pullman's authorial voice doesn't come through much and he states in the introduction that he's intentionally put none of his own spin, interpretation or even character into these tales - they are "faithful" retellings of the originals, which he hopes the reader will tell again with their own lens. there are no footnotes, comments or explainers in this audiobook version, as other reviewers have stated. i think i would've enjoyed the stories more if these had been present.
many of the tales have been heard by most readers many times e.g. cinderella, rapunzel, snow white, sleeping beauty, etc. [it's not suitable for small children though, these aren't the disney versions!]
there are so many stories included - making it a pretty comprehensive collection rather than a selective one.
given there are probably at least 50 stories contained within, there are also some i'd never heard before, but they mostly blur into one due to the number of shared themes/topics and even repeated phrases (and he took the kings daughter for a wife, each daughter was more beautiful than the last, the wicked stepmother was punished with a painful death, the boy lived happily to the end of his days, etc etc). it doesn't help (to this end) that many characters are never named, although i understand that's typical of fairytales.
a highlight for me was the story of the fisherman, the magic flounder, and the wife ilsabil. as i write this, i just realised it's probably the only story where the wife is named and the husband isn't, which might be why it stuck in my mind!
borrowed from leeds library using borrowbox.
this audiobook version is wonderfully performed by sam west - i don't think i could have endured all 10+ hours otherwise - but it's really rather dry and repetitive in content.
philip pullman's authorial voice doesn't come through much and he states in the introduction that he's intentionally put none of his own spin, interpretation or even character into these tales - they are "faithful" retellings of the originals, which he hopes the reader will tell again with their own lens. there are no footnotes, comments or explainers in this audiobook version, as other reviewers have stated. i think i would've enjoyed the stories more if these had been present.
many of the tales have been heard by most readers many times e.g. cinderella, rapunzel, snow white, sleeping beauty, etc. [it's not suitable for small children though, these aren't the disney versions!]
there are so many stories included - making it a pretty comprehensive collection rather than a selective one.
given there are probably at least 50 stories contained within, there are also some i'd never heard before, but they mostly blur into one due to the number of shared themes/topics and even repeated phrases (and he took the kings daughter for a wife, each daughter was more beautiful than the last, the wicked stepmother was punished with a painful death, the boy lived happily to the end of his days, etc etc). it doesn't help (to this end) that many characters are never named, although i understand that's typical of fairytales.
a highlight for me was the story of the fisherman, the magic flounder, and the wife ilsabil. as i write this, i just realised it's probably the only story where the wife is named and the husband isn't, which might be why it stuck in my mind!
borrowed from leeds library using borrowbox.
August 28, 2024
A very enjoyable read with an excellent opening on the general appeal and wonder of stories. The chosen tales to be rewritten give a full insight into the Grimm brothers and their sources while covering the well known and loved classics. My only qualm is that the insights at the end of each tale are short and precise. I'm unsure it feels like he did not wish to give his opinions. Which is a shame since I was most interested in his versions of these retellings. A good mix would have been the historical context, of which there is plenty, then his own opinions and decisions. There is some I could just do with more... Lovely book.
October 5, 2024
Really enjoyable and beautifully performed by Sam West. I knew a lot of the takes but far from all. Philip Pullman has used all his storytelling skill to update his favourite fifty, satisfyingly reinstating the matter of fact brutality and grimness that set these stories apart from more anodyne British stories. I guffawed several times and half the fun is in the punchlines. Some live happily ever after, but by no means all.
May 7, 2024
As an avid grimdark fairytale reader, I really enjoyed Samuel West's narration of these stories. As dark as some of them are, there's a sense of comfort I feel when listening to tales like these.
Some stories I liked and some I loved, so overall, I'd rate it 4 stars. It's definitely worth a listen for fellow fairytale addicts.
Some stories I liked and some I loved, so overall, I'd rate it 4 stars. It's definitely worth a listen for fellow fairytale addicts.
July 27, 2024
I'm a teacher and I read this before letting my Year Six's loose on it, and I would definitely not say it's for the young! Think a slightly watered down Angela Carter. Excellent stories retold brilliantly though.
December 28, 2024
Really enjoyed this book. Some of the short stories are bonkers and I enjoyed Phillip Pullmans opinions on them. He also writes a little about the history of some of them too. I read this with my girl and we both enjoyed them.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews