Format: ebook
Published: January 20th, 2022
Age: Adult
Genre: Non-Fiction – History – Folklore/Fairy Tales
Rating: 5/5 Stars
If you have an interest in fairy tales beyond the tales themselves, I think Jubber’s book is an excellent deep dive not just in the history of the tales, but of the people who wrote and/or collected them. Yes, we do get some of the famous, well-known names here (Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson), but we also get the lesser-known figures who both told and collected the stories we’ve come to know so well. I find I’m really enjoying books which often deliver short biographies of lesser known, overlooked figures, showing the wide impact they’ve had on the world around them.
It also works as somewhat of a travel book, taking us across the countries where these men and women lived, worked and travelled themselves. It infuses the book with the deep sense of location as well as people, piecing together the different aspects that inspired some of the greatest, most well-known fairy tales.
The book also explores the link between ‘Western’ and ‘Eastern’ cultures through fairy tales, the way these changed when coming into Europe or how the people who told them were overlooked. Jubber doesn’t shy away from confronting how many of the people featured were treated, either, or discussing why they’ve been overlooked for so long, often because of race or gender, with typically white men coming to the forefront and, in different ways, claiming the tales or becoming more famous off them than the ‘original’ teller.
It’s a fascinating read, and really brings the historical world to life, taking you through the very same streets where these people walked, while contrasting the history and inspiration on these tales with the modern views, exploring how much they’ve changed or, in some cases, remained the same.
If you’re intrigued by the historical context of fairy tales and interested in the paths between them, I can’t recommend this book enough. And Jubber has very usefully included a lot of these tales in the book itself, so you can get the full flavour and context as you’re reading.
Reading Challenge
Musicals Reading Challenge 2025
Prompt: Into the Woods – Prologue: Into the Woods – A fairy tale/retelling OR about fairy tales
Progress: 4/24
Unwrapping Words 