This collection of thirty literary stories in the genre of fairy tales, assembled and translated by Jack Zipes, offers a good read to anyone who enjoys stories. The title of the book says that the tales are from the Weimar days. For those not familiar with German history, this may not say much, but the editor’s introduction to the tales provides a view of the context in which these tales were written. The Weimar Republic was established after WWI, and after the failed attempt at a revolution by the socialists in Germany. The decade of the 1920s is considered the period of the Weimar Republic and is marked by rising tension between rightist and leftist forces. On the one hand, the leftists were bitter at the collapse of the revolution; on the other hand, they were strong enough to fight the emerging Nazi ideology and party. Several educated men and women of this period with leftist leanings wrote stories that would inspire, particularly younger readers, towards democratic ideals.
Jack Zipes points out that many people were able to realize that the future of Germany depended on the education they received. This was perhaps a more immediate cause for the emergence of these fairy tales, but the tradition of literary fairy tales in Germany had its roots in the nineteenth century. Jack Zipes gives a brief history of the fairy tale in Germany and situates the tales in this volume in that literary history, both in terms of style and content. His history of the fairy tale and fables in German literature continues beyond the Weimar days and reaches the second half of the twentieth century to show how these tales, some of which were very well known in their time, were forgotten after WWII. The lucid introduction provides a frame in which the tales presented can be better appreciated.
The thirty tales in this volume are divided into four sections: Learning from Mistakes; Kings, Tyrants, Misers and Other Fools; Animal Wisdom; and Freedom through Solidarity. I found the majority of the tales to be very interesting. They are not so much about contemporary events, but about core values and mental conditions. For example, “The Giant and His Suit of Armour” (37-40), by Edwin Hoernle is about a massive and powerful giant who has been enslaved by dwarfs, and although the dwarfs mistreat and exploit him, he fails to use his strength to free himself. Lessons are embedded in the tale without any direct references. Fairy tale motifs are regularly used but also turned around: nasty kings, beautiful and arrogant princesses, wise animals, and magicians all find their place and renewal in these utopian tales. Some tales, like “The Giant Spider” (145-151) by Anna Mosegaard, follows the well-known fairy tale trope of a miser who is taught a lesson by a mountain spirit. The illustrations are original in style and will arrest the attention of readers.
This collection of stories is enjoyable also because of the smooth translations. Jack Zipes is indeed a wonderful translator. The tales collected and presented in this volume are important for scholars of literature as well as of folktales, fairy tales, and fables. The volume is also meant for the simple pleasure of reading inspiring stories.
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[Review length: 539 words • Review posted on April 19, 2019]