The Brothers Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm, were renowned collectors of traditional fairy tales. Famous for classics like Cinderella and Hansel and Gretel, they significantly shaped children's literature with imaginative storytelling and memorable characters.
If you enjoy reading books by Brothers Grimm then you might also like the following authors:
If you enjoy the Brothers Grimm, Charles Perrault's fairy tales might interest you. Perrault collected many traditional folk stories and reshaped them for an audience of his time, emphasizing clear morals.
His style is direct, charming, and often highlights life lessons through vivid storytelling. A famous collection by Perrault includes Histoires ou contes du temps passé ("Tales of Mother Goose"), which features beloved tales like Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.
Hans Christian Andersen's stories combine imaginative plots with deep emotional resonance.
While similar in charm to the Brothers Grimm, Andersen often brings a sense of melancholy or longing to his tales, portraying nuanced characters who confront challenges with tenderness and courage.
In his famous collection, Fairy Tales, Andersen invites readers into magical yet emotionally intimate worlds, as seen in touching stories like The Little Mermaid and The Ugly Duckling.
Readers who enjoy the Brothers Grimm's wide range of stories may find themselves drawn to Andrew Lang's vibrant fairy tale collections. Lang compiled tales from diverse cultures and regions around the world, offering readers an expansive view of folk imagination.
In his book The Blue Fairy Book, Lang presents various traditional tales, beautifully retold, including well-known stories and lesser-known gems, all characterized by their lively writing style and rich storytelling.
Joseph Jacobs focused extensively on English, Scottish, and Celtic folklore. His storytelling feels accessible, humorous, and energetic, which sets him apart while maintaining that engaging folk narrative feel readers enjoy in the Brothers Grimm.
Jacobs' notable collection English Fairy Tales introduces charming, humorous stories such as Jack and the Beanstalk, popularizing many tales that have become staples in children's literature.
Norwegian writer Peter Christen Asbjørnsen collected traditional tales with a style that naturally evokes the landscape and culture of Norway. If you like the Brothers Grimm's earthy, folkloric feel, Asbjørnsen may capture your interest as well.
His collection Norwegian Folk Tales, compiled with collaborator Jørgen Moe, offers vivid and playful tales filled with giants, trolls, and magical encounters, highlighting themes of bravery, wit, and perseverance.
Jørgen Moe collected Norwegian folk stories filled with magic, trolls, humor, and clever characters. Like the Brothers Grimm, Moe's tales celebrate traditional wisdom and adventure, reflecting simple but profound life themes.
One great collection, created with his friend Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, is Norwegian Folktales, featuring the vivid tale The Three Billy-Goats Gruff.
Alexander Afanasyev gathered a vast number of Russian folk stories, capturing the depth of Slavic imagination. Many of his tales explore courage, cleverness, and morality, featuring witches, talking animals, and brave heroes.
In his collection Russian Fairy Tales, the tale Vasilisa the Beautiful shines, blending beauty and bravery in fascinating ways.
Giambattista Basile wrote Italian fairy stories full of wit, magic, trickery, and colorful characters. His style is distinctly playful yet sharp, often poking fun at human foolishness and vanity.
His work The Tale of Tales, also known as Pentamerone, includes early versions of classic stories such as Sun, Moon, and Talia, which later inspired the tale of Sleeping Beauty.
Marie-Catherine d'Aulnoy is known for elegant, enchanting French fairy stories. Her tales feature magical creatures, royalty, humor, and gentle satire on courtly life. Unlike the more rustic style of the Brothers Grimm, her stories carry an air of sophistication and charm.
One well-loved story is The White Cat, found in her collection Fairy Tales, offering beautiful imagery and playful storytelling.
Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont wrote fairy stories meant for teaching moral lessons gently through enjoyable narratives. Her style is clear and direct, making her storytelling approachable and memorable.
Her most famous story, Beauty and the Beast, has a message about kindness, inner beauty, and true understanding beyond appearances.
Ludwig Bechstein collected German folktales much like the Brothers Grimm. His version of the tales has a playful, gentle style, filled with moral lessons and magic.
If you appreciate Grimm's stories, you'll likely enjoy Bechstein's Deutsches Märchenbuch (German Fairy Tale Book), which offers familiar fairy tale charm.
Elias Lönnrot gathered Finnish folklore and legends into one sweeping epic, the Kalevala. His storytelling blends myth, poetry, and national pride. Readers who love how Grimm brothers weave culture into their tales might find Lönnrot's poetic narratives equally appealing.
Wilhelm Hauff wrote fairy tales that often have an imaginative and adventurous feel. His tales feature vibrant settings, magical beings, and clever plots.
If Grimm's stories appeal to you, you'll probably enjoy Hauff's collection Fairy Tales of Wilhelm Hauff, including well-known tales like "The Cold Heart."
Italo Calvino explored folklore in a fresh, imaginative way, drawing inspiration from traditional stories and crafting them into delightful retellings.
Readers who treasure Grimm's tales will find charm and humor in Calvino's Italian Folktales, a collection bringing less-known regional Italian stories vividly to life.
Angela Carter took traditional fairy tales and gave them a bold, modern twist. She challenged traditional themes with her witty, innovative style and feminist angle.
Fans of the Brothers Grimm's darker fairy tales may appreciate Carter's The Bloody Chamber, a striking retelling of classic stories from a fresh and thought-provoking perspective.