The Poets' Grimm: 20th Century Poems From Grimm Fairy Tales edited by Jeanne Marie Beaumont and Claudia Carlson

This is a collection of poems by various contemporary poets (some well known, some not so much) based on the fairy tales collected by the brothers Grimm in the early 1800's in Germany. The fairy tales the poems are based upon range from well known tales, such as those of Snow White and Cinderella to lesser known tales, such as "The White Snake" or "The Girl Without Hands." Some poems offer a meditation on the tale itself or a look at the tale from an entirely new and unexpected perspective.

This is probably one of my favorite poetry collections and holds a special place in my heart because not only do I love poetry, but I also love fairy tales. In fact, in college I did two independent studies that focused on the fairy tale genre and a thesis case study of the tale of Snow White. I collected 30-50 versions of the tale, including Greek and Armenian versions. There is even supposed to be an Appalachian version of Snow White, though I've been unable to find a copy of it to read myself. I could go on and on...and on about Snow White or fairy tales, but I'll stop here.

This is a must read for anyone who loves poetry and fairy tales. Unfortunately, this book is not available in county. If you would like to read it, you will have to inquire at the circulation desk about requesting it through ILL. You won't regret doing so, believe me!

--Reviewed by Ms. Angie

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