Grimms’ Fairy Tales (1912s) – Illustrated by Mabel Lucie Attwell
This beloved 1912 edition of Grimms’ Fairy Tales features the whimsical and endearing illustrations of Mabel Lucie Attwell, offering a charmingly childlike interpretation of the classic German folktales. Published by Raphael Tuck & Sons, the book presents Attwell’s signature rosy-cheeked, cherubic characters, whose innocent expressions soften even the darker edges of stories like Hansel and Gretel and Little Red Riding Hood. Her delicate watercolor style, filled with cozy cottages, plump fairies, and wide-eyed children, transforms the Brothers Grimm’s often stern narratives into gentle, dreamlike adventures—perfect for young readers.
About the Illustrator
Mabel Lucie Attwell (1879–1964) was one of Britain’s most cherished children’s illustrators, renowned for her nostalgic, sentimental depictions of childhood. Inspired by Kate Greenaway but with a distinctive, doll-like aesthetic, her work adorned nursery walls, postcards, and books for decades. Though sometimes criticized for sanitizing traditional tales, her illustrations’ warmth and humor made them iconic, particularly in series like Peter Pan and Wendy (1921) and her own Alice in Wonderland (1910).
Recommended for Collectors
- Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes (1910) illustrated by Attwell – A beautifully illustrated collection of classic verses for young children.
- Peter Pan and Wendy (1921), illustrated by Mabel Lucie Attwell – A magical rendering of Barrie’s classic with gentle, playful charm.
- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (1910), illustrated by Mabel Lucie Attwell – A whimsical take on Lewis Carroll’s fantastical world.
- The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm (1909) illustrated by Arthur Rackham – A darker, more intricate counterpoint
- The Water-Babies (1915) illustrated by Warwick Goble – For another gentle, early 20th-century fairy-tale vision
Art Gallery: Mabel Lucie Attwell – Grimms’ Fairy Tales 1912
