On the tracks of fairy tales
...of the Brothers Grimm is easier in Berlin than you might think: Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm lived the last 20 years of their lives in Berlin, are even buried in Berlin, on the Old St. Matthew's Churchyard. Even today you can find not only streets, squares and neighborhoods that are named after the two storytellers.
In addition to the well-known fairy tale fountain in Friedrichshain, where 9 fairy tales are depicted (Hansel and Gretel, Puss in Boots, Hans in Luck, The Seven Ravens, Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Little Brother and Little Sister, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty), there is also the Neukölln Fairy Tale Fountain, the Gänseliesel Fountain in Wilmersdorf and the Frog King Fountain in Pankow.
From 1840-59 and 1863, respectively, the two brothers lived in Berlin and were members of the Academy of Sciences. During this time they worked, among other things, on the “History of the German Language”.
Probably the most famous work of the two, however, is their collection of fairy tales! In its permanent exhibition, the Staatsbibliothek Unter den Linden shows the first two editions of the “Kinder- und Hausmärchen” (Children’s and Household Tales), which were published by the Reimer publishing house in Berlin. This was the “small edition” with 50 fairy tales, which was later supplemented with copper engravings.
But not only the Brothers Grimm were closely connected with the city’s history! In the first half of the 19th century, Berlin was a literary center without equal: for example, Adelbert von Chamisso, Ludwig Tieck, Theodor Fontane or E.T.A. Hoffmann lived in Berlin alongside the two storytellers. In addition to the permanent exhibition, the State Library also repeatedly shows small, fine special exhibitions that provide beautiful insights into the art of the book.
Fotos inkl. Titelbild: ©kischreport