Wilhelm Grimm

Born in Hanau in 1786, Wilhelm Grimm was a German writer, philologist, and folklorist whose life and work were closely bound to those of his older brother Jacob. Together they became known as the Brothers Grimm, collecting and shaping the tales later published as Kinder- und Hausmärchen, the book that introduced generations of readers to stories such as Hansel and Gretel, Snow White, and Rumpelstiltskin.

Wilhelm was not only a collector of stories but also an important scholar. He studied law before turning toward language, medieval literature, and folklore, and he worked with Jacob on projects that helped lay foundations for the study of German language and tradition. Readers often note that Wilhelm played a large part in giving the fairy tales their polished, memorable literary form.

Later in life he held academic posts, including work in Göttingen and Berlin, and remained active in research and publishing until his death in 1859. His legacy lives on in both children's literature and the study of folklore: the tales he helped preserve still feel vivid, strange, and alive.