"The Brothers Grimm: A Biography" by Ann Schmiesing is a thorough biography of Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm, usually referred to as the Grimm Brothers. You know, the ones who published all those fairytales? Reading this meaty book, however, quickly introduces the readers to a much more comprehensive view of the brothers as well as the history of Germany.

From their childhood and education to their political stances and literary accomplishments, the book has everything. While the author takes the readers through the lives of the two brothers, we learn about their social connections and literary contemporaries. We are given much context regarding the dramatic political upheavals that Germany, and Europe as a whole, was experiencing at the time. We are introduced as well to their unusually strong bond, seeing one or both of them suffering emotionally, mentally and physically at the mere idea of being separated.

While I went into the book expecting to learn about the fairytales and how they came to be collected, I ended up learning much about their other works as well such as their German Dictionary and 'The German Grammar'. The book also discussed the reception of each of the works, so we're exposed to what their critics and contemporaries agreed and disagreed with.

In addition to that, we explore how the different editions and iterations of their books transformed over time. How the same fairytale changed across the different editions highlighting the brothers' own biases and methodology such as the effect of the widespread antisemitism on their writing, as well as, that of their religious beliefs and general societal expectations and norms. An example is how Rapunzel's story was edited in later editions to remove references to pregnancy out of wedlock.

This is not a light read and can be very academic in its presentation, but I still found it very approachable despite knowing next to nothing about the men or Germany's history. All in all, I feel I've emerged from the deep dive much more knowledgeable and better equipped to critique the brothers' works.

I recommend this book if you would like a well-researched, in-depth biography of the Brothers Grimm and an exploration of their works as well as the history of Germany.

Ann Schmiesing’s The Brothers Grimm: A Biography isn’t my normal sort of book but it also felt like a fascinating idea to read the story of the ultimate story tellers. The book feels like a meticulously researched and engaging exploration into what we know about  Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Everyone knows the iconic German storytellers whose fairy tales have left an unmistakable mark on global literature. Schmiesing balances historical context with her own personal insight, this helps to paint a vivid portrait of the brothers not just as storytellers, but as linguists, folklorists, and cultural preservationists in 19th-century Europe.

This book is at its best when it gives a detailed examination of the Grimms’ lives and the historical period in which they lived and worked. The biography takes us through their childhood in Hanau through to their academic pursuits and the challenges they faced during a turbulent political era. The book also goes into more detail about how they worked together, showing how their strengths seemed to complement each other with Jacob’s rigorous scholarship and Wilhelm’s narrative flair. We found out how all these elements shaped their enduring legacy. The prose is accessible yet it feels scholarly, weaving what primary sources we have, such as the brothers’ letters and journals, into a narrative that feels both intimate and authoritative. Importantly the book doesn’t shy away from the complexities of their legacy, addressing criticisms of their editorial choices and what is now seen as the darker undertones of their tales.

It does occasionally delve into academic minutiae, which may slow the pace for some casual readers – it did for me a few times - it remains a compelling read for those interested in both literary history and folklore.

The Brothers Grimm: A Biography is a worthwhile tribute to two figures, whom I didn’t know much about and whose work continues to resonate through the centuries. This is a great book which taught me much I didn’t know, not just about the Grimm’s but also about the time period the lived and worked in.

I fell in love with The Brother's Grimm fairy tales ever since I discovered them as a teenager. Getting to read a biography about the brothers was incredibly interesting and insightful. I loved learning about their rich past. It makes me better appreciate the work they put into their fairy tales.

An informative and engaging biography: thoughtful, balanced, and entertaining. I really appreciated the combination of academic seriousness with a tone that made the stories from the brothers' lives feel personal and immediate.

DNF. I've always been a huge fan of the Grimms brothers, but this was so dry I needed a big glass of water. I read chapters and then reread the same chapters and there was just too much detail and it didn't feel linear or relevant often.
It's a shame as this could have been done in a way that drew readers in.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this, but I will not be reviewing this on my blog as I do not wish to tarnish the writer.

Good luck!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I am a big fairy tale fan, and was excited to read this book, but ended up disappointed, and found myself skimming through a lot of it. This book was a very detailed account of the lives of the Brothers Grimm. Maybe a little too detailed. It felt boring and too much like listening to a lecture about them.

I have always loved the work of The Brother’s Grimm and it’s always exciting when favourite authors or scholars get new academia on them. Schmiesing has breathed new life into the famous Brothers, their work and their life. The writing is engaging and easily absorbed with their world coming to life.

This is an invaluable source to researchers and fans alike who want a newer insight into the life and times of the Grimms whose work is arguably a staple of childhood for most, even if the works are edited or watered down to the original.
As always thank you to Yale University Press for the advanced copy to review, my reviews are always honest and freely given.

This was a sort of dnf / did not read to be honest.
The idea appealed to me but the writing was really small and I just couldn't get into the story .

Biographies aren't something I'm usually drawn to, but I was intrigued by this biography on the Grimm brothers and was hoping to learn more about them as someone who only knows about them from their collection of fairytales.

This is a very detailed biography of the lives of the Grimm brothers, covering their lives from birth and exploring how events throughout their childhood and teenage years as well as political and social changes shaped their lives and their works. It is so detailed and fact heavy that I feel it's only really going to be fully understood and appreciated by other people with an academic background specialising in the same or very similar topics, it does not feel like it's designed for an everyday, general audience.

I found this biography very hard to read and, unfortunately, don't feel like I really took in many of the details about the Grimm brothers and their works. This is not something I would recommend reading unless you are studying the life and works of the Grimm brothers or have a background in studying the life and works of people.

A thorough and detailed biography of two brothers who are a household name, yet ultimately few know much about them. I enjoyed reading about their lives and how the stories came to be - my own impression, while considering myself a lover of all fairytales, was actually quite far from the truth. This is a very academic text, challenging preconceptions and I learned a great deal.

“And if they have not died, then they are still living today.”.

As most people, I too grew up on fairy tales and as I got older was introduced to the first fairy tales before they were Disney-fied, the Grimms Fairy Tales. The ones that were more macabre, gory, and dark than those of Disney’s retellings. Due to the twisting of these original tales by the Brothers Grimm, there are a lot of misconceptions that revolve around these brothers and not enough truth. Schmiesing delves into the brothers history and attempts to dispel as many misconceptions as possible whilst letting you relive the lives of these two brothers.
This biography is the first I’ve ever read on Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. I find it endearing concept how close to one another they were in life and their work. There were many facts that I learned about them and their accomplishments in just the first chapters of this book.
If you are not a scholar and are just reading this for funsies, take it piece by piece, and only if you’re really interested in the content. It takes time to absorb all the information being unpacked in this hefty biography. However, if you have the time, then pop a squat and learn more about these wonderful brothers.

#ThxNetGalley #AnnSchmiesing #TheBrothersGrimm

Everyone knows the Brothers Grimm and their fairytales, many of which have been changed or adapted throughout the years. It was interesting to read who they really were and how those amazing fairytales came about. Such an interesting read.

This well-researched scholarly work reads more like a textbook than a narrative for a lay audience. It’s too dry and detailed for me. DNF

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

This biography is well written and I learned a lot about the brothers.

It is just so interesting to dive deep into the stories I grew up reading and listening to at night.

I may be a nerd when it comes to facts but I like to read between the lines and have a better understanding of things.
This book helps me with that aspect.

Special thanks to #NetGalley and #YaleUniversityPress for the #ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

It would be difficult to find a person who has not enjoyed a story from the library of the Brothers Grimm. Not many know the life stories of the brothers. Ann Schmiesing's well researched and skillfully written biography is as engrossing as the fairy tales that have entertained many generations of children, teens and adults. So much of this information was new to me. Now I'll need to see how much of their history I can find worked into their fiction.

This is a very well researched book, the pages are packed with information about the Grimm Brothers life. This does mean that the biography is rather dense and is probably best read in several sitting unless you are a serious academic. I like many others grew up reading Grimm's fairytales but new very little at all about the brothers who collected and preserves the tales. I knew so little about them in fact that until reading this book I didn't know there first names and thought Jacob and Wilhelm where twins! I am very glad to have read this book and learned so much about the brothers whos collected stories brought and continue to bring such joy to my life.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

This is a meticulously researched and brought the brother back to life. Also, I loved learning about the stories they’ve had an impact on. Definitely worth a read.

The fairytales compiled by the Brothers Grimm were the first stories I read on my own. More precisely, they were the texts I utilized learning to read in my native tongue. The animated adaptations and the stories my grandmother used to tell me were mostly attributed to the Brothers Grimm. Until some years ago, I didn't even know the names of these brothers or how many siblings there were under the Brothers Grimm “umbrella.”
The Brothers Grimm by Ann Schmiesing is a meticulously researched book that pulls the reader in. Most of the time, I felt like I was walking through life along with Jacob and Wilhelm, seeing all the hardships they had to overcome and all the ways they cared for their parents, siblings, and friends. And I felt for them.
The analysis done by Ann Schmiesing of the fairytales the brothers compiled was illuminating. The writer sheds light on the misconceptions most of us probably have about the way they were gathered and written down. Most importantly, this biography also focuses on all the other literary projects the brothers worked on and are rarely if ever spoken about.
Ann Schmiesing succeeds at painting the historical context Jacob and Wilhelm lived in, all the political changes, the wars, and the political stance they took. But the turmoil of the time did not stop them from following their bookish passions. This is what I like most about this book: I could feel the passion of the biographer for the subject and also the passion of the two brothers for study and literary creation.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone interested in the lives of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, interested in the origins of some of the most well-known fairytales today, or simply interested in knowing more about the story of a name we hear often but don't know much about.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for giving me access to a copy of this book.
4/5

The Brothers Grimm by Ann Schmiesing is extremely well researched and thorough, covering the Grimm family history, and the brothers' education, careers and families. There is a lot of information about their passion for collecting Germanic folktales and their dedication to keeping this aspect of culture alive. The style of writing is very academic, however, so this might not appeal to the general reader who wants a lighter, more entertaining read.

DNF at 30%

As someone who really loves learning history of all periods, I picked this up because I know a) very little about the Brothers Grimm aside from them collecting fairytales and b) very little about that time period in Germany. In a lot of ways, this book satisfies that. Unfortunately, it does so in more granular detail than I was really looking for and the writing style itself leans towards dry and academic.

For folks who are really into biographical details, The Brothers Grimm is a much better choice because Schmiesing provides a great view of their early lives, the situation of the family and the context of the part of Germany that they lived in. As someone who typically doesn't read a lot of biography and favors history that spends less time on individuals lives, this was just too much for me. I did really like the parts that were more focused on German attitudes and context of the time period though.