# Jacob & Wilhelm Grimm

## Biography

Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm were German academics, linguists, and cultural researchers, renowned for their collection of folk tales and their profound impact on the study of the German language. Born in Hanau, Jacob in 1785 and Wilhelm in 1786, they grew up amidst financial hardship but excelled academically, studying law and philology at the University of Marburg. Their shared passion for medieval literature and German cultural history led them to dedicate their lives to documenting oral traditions.

Their most celebrated work, "Children's and Household Tales," often known as Grimm's Fairy Tales, was first published in 1812 and popularized classics such as "Cinderella," "Hansel and Gretel," and "Snow White." While Wilhelm was often the more literary and imaginative in refining the tales, Jacob was the scholarly force. Beyond folklore, they made significant contributions to linguistics, including Jacob's pioneering work on "Grimm's Law" and their ambitious project, the "Deutsches Wörterbuch," a comprehensive German dictionary that remained unfinished at their deaths in 1863 and 1859, respectively. Their meticulous methods set lasting standards for folklore studies and shaped modern philology.

## Books

- [Grimms' Fairy Tales](https://samolit.com/books/4876)