'lo all. 

Can anyone tell me some good sources on origins of fairy tales - did
Grimm and Andersen write their own material or collect it, that sort
of thing. I have half an idea that they did adapt tales they already
knew rather than making them up, but I don't know if my memory is
deceiving me.

So far the Scottish tales are being irritating - Gold Tree and Silver
Tree, for example. Otherwise known as Snow White. So where did *that*
come from? Did we export it, import it? There are some differences (it
is not a *step*mother who is jealous in this one), but the story
itself is easy enough to spot. Plus I've not managed to read much more
of them, and haven't got to the note-taking stage (didn't know if half
the books I've got were worth taking notes on, see), so now I'm
forgetting the details again. <wry g>

This tendency to have similar stories, and to claim them as old
whether they are or not, reminds me of a certain upcoming festival.
<;-/


-- 
"I can still see her face at thirty.
When will I be most myself?
I thought I'd always be their child.
In my sleep it's never winter."

Halla wrote:
> 'lo all. 
> 
> Can anyone tell me some good sources on origins of fairy tales - did
> Grimm and Andersen write their own material or collect it, that sort
> of thing. I have half an idea that they did adapt tales they already
> knew rather than making them up, but I don't know if my memory is
> deceiving me.

Grimm's tales, likewise Periot's (sp) were collections and adaptations, 
not original compositions. I believe many of Andersen's were original 
compositions. Other sources for of collections and adaptations include 
Andrew Lang's multi-colored fairy books (The Blue Fairy Book, The Green 
Fairy Book, etc.)

-- 
Blessed Be,
Gale

original fiction, poetry, reviews http://www.capjewels.com

"Progress which pursues only the next invention, progress which pulls 
thought out of the mind and replaces it with idle slogans, is not 
progress at all. It is a beckoning mirage in a desert over which stagger 
the generations of men." -- Loren Eisley, _The Firmament of Time_