Grimm Reading

A magical fish, a boy dressed as a bear, and a nosy father in law all make an appearance in this week’s episode: The Gold Children.

After the story, discover how this largely unknown tale is connected to a tale from the Neapolitan Pentamarone, as well as to a German marketing agency and a heavy metal band.

Twitter

[email protected]

Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other Music: Schubert's Violin Sonata in A major Op. 162  performed by Oliver Colbentson // Ravel's Miroirs - III. Une barque sur l'ocean performed by Robert Ewen Birchall

When two clumsy children fall down a well, a Water Nixie forces them to do unpleasant chores for her. Will they ever get out? And how will a hairbrush and slippery mirror come to their aid? Find out in the shortest story we’ve ever read: The Water Nixie.

After the tale, we present a mental-somersault of a theory on what the story could mean, before being taken on a journey by Jacob Grimm into the history of Nix and Nixies.

Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other Music: Debussy's Reflets dans l'eau ("Reflections in the Water") performed by Jacopo Salvatori // Debussy's Ondine ("The Water Sprite"), Preludes Livre 2, performed by Ivan Ilić 

In The Dog And The Sparrow, a callous waggoner gets his comeuppance after he destroys a blossoming friendship between a dog and a sparrow.

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Patreon

[email protected]

Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other Music: Piano Quintet in F Minor, Op.34 by Johannes Brahms, Performed by Le Quatuor Hongrois // Piano Quartet No.1, Op.25 by Johannes Brahms, Performed by Musicians from Ravinia's Steans Music Institute

In The Thief and His Master, an unholy priest prank leads one boy on an unforgettable journey where he learns the dual arts of thievery and shapeshifting. However, things turn south when his master doesn't receive his desired pay.

Finally we choose the next three stories and reveal the winning tale from our Patreon poll!

Twitter

Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other Music: Camille Saint-Saëns's Cello Concerto No. 1 in A Minor, Op. 33 - I. Allegro non troppo // Schubert's Sonata in B Flat Major, D. 960 - IV. Allegro ma non troppo performed by Paul Pittman

In Jacob Grimm's official favourite story, a jealous fox puts his wife to the test by playing dead. But will any of her new suitors hold a candle to her late husband's attributes? As their family cat servant tries to control the ensuing mayhem, we get an impromptu crash course in butter beer and bread milk making.

Find out how this strange story taps into a world of suppression in occupied Napoleonic Germany, why it doesn't pay to indulge your jealousy, and what someone called Wooden Johannes has to do with it all.

What at first appears as nothing more than a wacky story, gets right to the heart of debates on fairy tales and crosses continents in an explosive meeting of east and west.

Facebook

Instagram

Patreon

[email protected]

Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other Music: Johannes Brahms' Piano Trio No.1 Op.8 Performed by Claremont Trio // Johannes Brahms' Piano Sonata No.1 Op.1 Finale. Allegro Con Fuoco Performed by Peter Bradley-Fulgoni

In Gambling Hansel, an anti-hero with a chronic gambling addiction has dangerous run ins with Luficier, God, St. Peter, and our old friend Death.

In what we’re calling 'Hansel and Gretel Part II', Hansel threatens to destabilize heaven itself with the aid of loaded dice, a troupe of demons, and a magical tree. Will he win his battle against celestial deities? Or will his dark-side prove his downfall.

After the story, we interrogate the surprising conclusions of a linguistic paper on emotional text analysis, before checking back in with Death and hearing the world’s oldest tale about cheating the afterlife.

Twitter

[email protected]

Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other Music: Beethoven's Piano Trio No7 in B-flat Major Op97 // Chopin’s Nocturne in B flat minor, Op. 9 no. 1.2

In our final adventure of the cock and hen trilogy, things go south fast for the incurable rascals and Chanticleer is soon faced with a life without Partlet. Can he ever move on? And will the beasts of the forest ever make it to the funeral?

Facebook

Instagram

Patreon

[email protected]

Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other Music: Johannes Brahms' Clarinet Quintet Op. 115 Performed by William McColl and the Oxford String Quartet

Despite the machinations of an evil king, a prophecy sees a cocky luck child marry the princess. But his happily ever after is cut short when he is forced to embark on an epic quest that will take him to the very depths of hell, and into the dress of the devil’s grandma…

In our first ever Patron chosen story, we embark on one of our biggest adventures yet, where we meet confused city guards, soft-hearted robbers and even some good millers.

We then try to pick apart this extremely dense tale and find ourselves chatting about everything from ancient Greek funerary rites to Jack and the Bean Stalk and Star Wars.

Happy new year Grimm Readers! We hope you enjoy The Devil With The Three Golden Hairs as much as we did.



Twitter

Facebook

[email protected]

Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other Music: Chopin’s Nocturne in C sharp minor 'Lento con gran espressione', B. 49 performed by Aaron Dunn // Chopin’s Étude Op. 10, no. 5 in G flat major - 'Black Keys' performed by Martha Goldstein.

Join us for the second annual Grimm Reading Christmas Party! We get into the festive spirit once more with port, mince pies and crackers! We also exchange gifts, enjoy an epic Christmas story, and have a bit of a round up of the year's scores.

Thank you once again to everyone who has messaged us, supported us on Patreon and social media, and listened to the podcast throughout the year - it's been a really fun one and we're both excited for the year to come!

Keep it Grimm.

Twitter

[email protected]

Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko (+ sleigh bells)

In this week’s episode, a young girl embarks on a psychedelic quest to rescue her brothers. after their father accidentally turns them into ravens.

Glass mountains, dwarf butlers and helpful stars all make an appearance in the strange, gothic tale The Seven Ravens.

We discuss the significance of the motifs, learn about ravens in folklore, and contemplate a popular socio-historical approach to the meaning of the story.

Twitter

[email protected]

Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other Music: Schubert's Serenade // Schubert's Impromptu No. 4, op. 90.2