【明報專訊】Although the book is named after Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, the brothers were not the creators of its stories. The book comprises about 200 stories.

The Grimm brothers (格林兄弟) heard the stories from people like their servants and nursemaids. They tried hard to collect different versions of the same story to create the typical one. Their aim was to save the tradition of German folk tales.

To mark their achievement, the Germany authorities decided that their faces be featured in the 1,000-Mark (馬克) banknotes issued in 1991. Interestingly and coincidentally, the Grimm brothers told "grim" stories. Grim means worrying or gloomy.

Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty are among the best-known Grimm fairy tales.