Lost work by the Brothers Grimm found hidden in library – and handwritten notes could reveal how the authors chose themes for stories like ‘Hansel and Gretel’ and ‘Rumpelstiltskin’

The Brothers Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm are known for dozens of iconic fairy tales, but researchers recently discovered 27 more original parts.

The works were found in the Library of Poland at the University Library in Poznan and are believed to have been part of the men’s private collection.

The books contain handwritten notes that may reveal how the brothers chose themes for stories such as “Hansel and Gretel” and “Rumpelstiltskin.”

The discovery was made by scientists from Poland’s Adama Mickiewicz University, who spent six months analyzing every book in the hope of finding the series thought to have been destroyed in World War II.

The search lasted almost six months and the discovery may help expand research into the authors’ works on the famous fairy tale collection. Pictured is a first edition of Simplicissimus from 1669,

‘The volumes found in the University Library in Poznan from the private book collection of the Brothers Grimm, considered lost since the end of the Second World War, can contribute significantly to the growth of contemporary Grimm studies and give hope that the collection of the BUP also contains more books. items – considered lost – from Jacob and Wilhelm’s private library,’ the researchers wrote this month.

Jacob and Wilhelm, the eldest of six, were born in 1785 and 1786.

They were German academics who started their careers writing folk songs and stories for their friends.

The brothers then delved into critical essays in which they discovered a love for literature and other writing.

As the researchers indicate, the notes are valuable for research into the legacy of the Grimms, because they can provide insight into their working methods and choice of themes.

Interestingly, the recovered books in many cases contained handwritten notes by Jakub and Wilhelm, who often annotated interesting motifs on the book’s cover pages.

Jacob and Wilhelm, the eldest of six, were born in 1785 and 1786. They were German academics who started their careers writing folk songs and stories for their friends

The Grimms’ famous collection includes legends, novellas and folk tales that have become beloved children’s stories, but the original version was deemed too dark for their ears.

If you ever had Cinderella read to you as a child, you probably won’t be familiar with this excerpt, in which the stepsisters are urged by their mother to mutilate themselves in an attempt to marry the prince.

By the way, the prince saw the blood lying around in the ‘golden’ slipper, which foiled their ugly plans.

And the dark theme can be found in almost all their stories.

The books date from the 18th to 19th centuries and contain new fairy tales that have never been read by the public until now, such as a story about a brave knight and a princess named Magelona.

The books date from the 18th to 19th centuries and contain new fairy tales that have never been read by the public until now, such as a story about a brave knight and a princess named Magelona

The footnotes and indexes contain notes explaining why the brothers chose the themes, source material, and other annotations

But the latest collection found in the library could reveal why the brothers chose such ideas for their works.

The footnotes and indexes contain notes explaining why the brothers chose the themes, source material, and other annotations.

“It was long thought that the books found in the University Library were lost during the Second World War,” the researchers say.

‘They are of great value in their contribution to the development of modern research into the literary and scientific production of the Brothers.

“The very fact that they have been found leads us to believe that the Library’s book collections may contain other volumes that belonged to the private book collection of Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm.”