The Juniper Tree: And Other Tales from Grimm

The Juniper Tree: And Other Tales from Grimm translated by Lore Segal and Randall Jarrell and illustrated by Maurice Sendak is these days considered a classic. Catinka Knoth reminded me of that other Jarrell fairy tale connection on her Facebook comment for my post on Jarrell's fairy tale poetry. So I thought why not? Let's post that one today.

This is the collection I like to recommend to those wanting a more obscure collection of Grimms tales--not that this book is obscure, but that many of the tales within are not the "greatest hits" and many of the greatest hits are missing. There are enough of them to satisfy those who want the greatest hits though. But this means we get some illustrations for tales that are not so often illustrated by a wonderful illustrator.

Here's the official book description:

A one-volume hardcover edition for the 30th anniversary

Originally published as a two-volume set thirty years ago, The Juniper Tree is distinguished first by the selection of stories. Lore Segal and Maurice Sendak have jointly culled 27 from the 210 in the complete collection, and their contents page presents a fascinating critical statement. The translations are another distinguishing quality of the Segal/Sendak edition. Both translators have been painstakingly faithful to the German texts; they have not cut, “retold,” or bowdlerized. In addition, Segal and Jarrell bring to their renderings of Grimm the grace and precision that are characteristic of their own original prose. This must-have edition for every home library is jacketed and cloth-bound and has a bookmark ribbon.

Table of Contents:

The Three Feathers
Hans My Hedgehog
The Story of One Who Set Out to Study Fear
Brother and Sister
Spindle, Shuttle, and Needle
The Twelve Huntsmen
Fitcher's Feathered Bird
The Devil and His Three Golden Hairs
The Fisherman and His Wife
The Master Thief
Brother Gaily
The Goblins
Hansel and Gretel
The Frog King, or Iron Henry
The Poor Miller's Boy and the Little Cat
Fredrickand His Katelizabeth
The Golden Bird
Bearskin
Godfather Death
Many-fur
Rapunzel
Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs
Rabbit's Bride
The Two Journeyman
Ferndinand Faithful and Ferndinand Unfaithful
Mrs. Gertrude
The Juniper Tree