Grimm’s Fairy Tales (1973), illustrated by Arthur Rackham, is a timeless edition of the Brothers Grimm’s classic folktales, celebrated for its hauntingly beautiful artwork and unvarnished storytelling. This volume revives Rackham’s iconic 1909 illustrations—ethereal watercolors and intricate pen-and-ink drawings that capture the dark enchantment of tales like Snow White, Rapunzel, and The Frog King. Rackham’s gnarled forests, mischievous sprites, and shadowy villains defined early 20th-century fairy-tale aesthetics, influencing generations of artists.
The 1973 reprint preserves the Grimms’ original, often brutal narratives—wicked mothers (not stepmothers) and grim moral consequences—offering a stark contrast to sanitized modern versions.
For lovers of golden-age illustration, pair this with Rackham’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1908) or Edmund Dulac’s Stories from Hans Andersen (1911).
