Sämtliche Werke

This facsimile edition of the first print of the "Deutsche Sagen" from 1816/18 is a consistent part of the works of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Besides a comprehensive and informative introduction by Leander Petzold in the first volume, nothing has been changed. In contrast to the poetic treatments of the subjects of legend written by contemporary authors and unlike the "Kinder- und Hausmarchen", the "Deutsche Sagen" were subjected to less stylistic elaboration, as Jacob Grimm describes: "It was necessary to keep to the words as far as possible without clinging to them slavishly." The two volumes are divided into "Ortssagen" (I) and "Historische Sagen" (II); it should be remarked here that the connection to a certain place is an essential element of legend. Besides a broad strand of popular traditions, i.e. texts mostly written down directly from oral tradition, the Brothers Grimm made use of chronicles, travelogues and reports on wonders and miracles taken from the numerous works of prodigy and chronicle literature published between the 15th and 18th centuries as well as biographies, memoirs, leaflets, popular books, curiosity and prodigy literature, medieval manuscripts, collections of folk songs and finally topographical/statistical works, anecdotes and calendar stories up to Goethe's "Wilhelm Meister". A collection of this kind fulfils a real need today: the Brothers Grimm made literary sources fruitful for popular tales in a way achieved by only very few collectors.