The Turnip Princess and Other Newly Discovered Fairy Tales in Into the Forest

Feb 07, 2015 Christine rated it really liked it

Shelves: myth-and-lore-german, literature-german, netgalley-and-arcs

Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley. (However, I pre-ordered a kindle edition of the book prior to ARC approval).

I had heard of Von Schonwerth before the discovery of his trove by Erika Eichenseer, so I was looking forward to this book. The blurb likens von Schonwerth to Perrault, the Grimms, and Andersen – making the “trio” a quartet (we can discuss the leaving out of the women salon writers ourselves). This isn’t quite the case.

This isn’t because the stories aren’t grand; they are. But considering
Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley. (However, I pre-ordered a kindle edition of the book prior to ARC approval).

I had heard of Von Schonwerth before the discovery of his trove by Erika Eichenseer, so I was looking forward to this book. The blurb likens von Schonwerth to Perrault, the Grimms, and Andersen – making the “trio” a quartet (we can discuss the leaving out of the women salon writers ourselves). This isn’t quite the case.

This isn’t because the stories aren’t grand; they are. But considering today’s squeamish about children’s stories, I can’t see many parents reading these stories to their children.

This is a shame really.

In many ways, von Schonwerth is better than the Grimms simply because he didn’t adjust (clean, scour, sanitize – chose the preferred term) the stories the same way the Grimms did. Hence the tales collected her tend to be on the earthy side. In fact, unlike the Grimm stories, several of the tales in this collection lend themselves quite readily to being recited at the local bar, properly over a nice dark beer.

Another aspect of the stories that set them apart not only from the Grimms, but also from Perrault and Andersen are the women in the stories. The girls and women are far stronger, more determined, and resourceful than the pretty princesses of the Grimms, the silly girls of Perrault, or the suffering or damned women of Andersen. There is Ashfeathers who is not a normal Cinderella, there is a variation of Rumpelstilken with far better women, and there is a mother who stops at nothing to protect her son. Even though she has been turned into a horse. The father in this strange family? Well, it’s his fault.

Several of the stories are types (in otherwise, they have basic plots) that most readers of fairy tales will be familiar with, the surprise and charm lies in the twists (or the earthiness) of the stories. Honestly, Thumbnickel is both the grossest and the best version of Tom Thumb I have ever read. It involves a cow and poop. There is absolutely no moral, and it is fabulous!

Another favorite is a story about a girl who saves a weasel. In many ways, this short and sweet play upon Beauty and the Beast is far more beautiful in terms of religion than the Grimms’ fables with the religious elements are heavily stressed. The mermaid stories are also far more beautiful and stunning than any Andersen short story.

This collection also includes two introductions, one by Eichenseer who discusses the finding of the tales; the other by Maria Tatar that places the stories in content. Of more interest are the notes at the end of the book, detailing not only the tale type but making comparisons and other general remarks.
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Aug 08, 2013 Fi marked it as to-read

Shelves: fairy-tale

Waiting patiently for an English translation!

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Feb 15, 2015 Margaryta rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, netgalley

Thank you to Penguin Group for providing me with an egallery copy of the book to review.

I loved the Grimm fairytales since I was a kid. Safe to say I even grew up on them. Fairytales have always held a special spot in my life when it comes to reading and even now that I’m a teenager I still can safely say I’ll never get too old for fairytales. The Germans are, safe to say, well known for their dark tales. Coming across “The Turnip Princess” created an instant spark of interest – new fairy tales Thank you to Penguin Group for providing me with an egallery copy of the book to review.

I loved the Grimm fairytales since I was a kid. Safe to say I even grew up on them. Fairytales have always held a special spot in my life when it comes to reading and even now that I’m a teenager I still can safely say I’ll never get too old for fairytales. The Germans are, safe to say, well known for their dark tales. Coming across “The Turnip Princess” created an instant spark of interest – new fairy tales that have been found after being hidden for so long? Yes please!

However the initial fascination quickly turned into a long of head scratching and sighing, and here’s where it becomes problematic to critique. From an editorial point of view I think that book was put together wonderfully – the introduction was informative and the notes at the end of the book were very detailed about each story, giving interesting context and background information that, to a curious reader, is invaluable. From this angle the book is wonderful. What was disappointing was the content, the stories themselves.

Perhaps if I go and reread The Brothers Grimm now I will have the same reaction so I cannot say with too much certainty, yet I found the stories boring. Several of them were ones I already knew, like the one about the brave tailor who thought he killed seven flies in one swing, or the one about the girl who got magic acorns from which she received a dress and shoes. These are stories I know of from other European, both Germanic and Slavic, cultures, so to find them in the book gave a reaction in the form of a disappointing “Oh”. The stories are simple and not very gory from what I’d say. You do have some of your standard things like chopping off a finger but to those who are familiar with other fairy tales this shouldn’t be much of a surprise.

Perhaps it’s the fact that I have read so many fairy tales that it has begun to feel repetitive for me – I’ll accept that. For readers who have a much fresher start in the fairy tale department this might be more enjoyable, but after finishing the book I couldn’t quite understand what the big deal was when these were found. They don’t offer too much to the already broad world of stories, most not only regurgitating the same themes but also using the same details and approaches to do so. This book, then, is for the more patient reader, one who doesn’t mind reading over many of the same details and messages over again, although these ones are much more abrupt and rather rough in their storytelling method, with rough transitions and lacking even that “fairy tale” quality to them. Someone will appreciate these stories, and I understand them. This is a big part of history that, to those who understand the value and love it, will find this an invaluable addition to their literary traverse. For me this was a quick, leisurely read that will quickly prove itself forgetful. ...more

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Aug 16, 2018 Annette rated it liked it

Shelves: own-physical-copy, into-the-forest-2018, collections, 2018

I don’t appreciate the publication of this collection as much as other readers. I found the first few stories littered with modern language, some of the middle stories with an ending that didn’t fit and then the last few stories were just too abrupt.

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Mar 13, 2019 Tam G rated it liked it

Shelves: adventure, children, fable-or-fairy-tale

A lot of similarities with the Grimm Brothers. Some of the stories are obviously related. One of the differences is that this seems less polished, more raw (pre-marital sex, woman leaving a man, baby before marriage), and more academic. I enjoyed the notes located at the end of the book which detail the type of story, what makes it unique, and the specific region it hails from.

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