What do you think?
Rate this book
King Grisly-Beard
A beautiful but rude and conceited princess is taught a lesson.
5 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 1812
About the author
Jacob Grimm
5,096 books2,088 followersGerman philologist and folklorist Jakob Ludwig Karl Grimm in 1822 formulated Grimm's Law, the basis for much of modern comparative linguistics. With his brother Wilhelm Karl Grimm (1786-1859), he collected Germanic folk tales and published them as
Grimm's Fairy Tales
(1812-1815).
Indo-European stop consonants, represented in Germanic, underwent the regular changes that Grimm's Law describes; this law essentially states that Indo-European p shifted to Germanic f, t shifted to th, and k shifted to h. Indo-European b shifted to Germanic p, d shifted to t, and g shifted to k. Indo-European bh shifted to Germanic b, dh shifted to d, and gh shifted to g.
This jurist and mythologist also authored the monumental German Dictionary and his Deutsche Mythologie .
Adapted from Wikipedia.
Indo-European stop consonants, represented in Germanic, underwent the regular changes that Grimm's Law describes; this law essentially states that Indo-European p shifted to Germanic f, t shifted to th, and k shifted to h. Indo-European b shifted to Germanic p, d shifted to t, and g shifted to k. Indo-European bh shifted to Germanic b, dh shifted to d, and gh shifted to g.
This jurist and mythologist also authored the monumental German Dictionary and his Deutsche Mythologie .
Adapted from Wikipedia.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
April 6, 2019
What a lovely tale! This short story is about a spoiled and conceited princess. No suitor is good enough for her. Her father, the King, marries her off to a grubby fiddler. Then the princess lives in poverty and is forced to work, and gets mocked... I don't want to give the ending away but I really enjoyed this story and how the princess gets taught an important lesson.
December 19, 2022
Whilst I like Maurice Sendak's art a lot, I've never been a fan of this tale. I find the punishment for the conceited princess was excessive given her sin was to be rude. It reflects a time when princesses would be sold into marriage without a right to protest, and this one got given a choice she squanders for being too picky and very rude, which I took to be more a form of protest, but is marrying her off to the first beggar that comes knocking a proportionate punishment? I don't think so. And the fact that this ends happily for the princess doesn't change the fact that her father went overboard with the punishment, which could've as easily backfired.
Besides, how exactly is marriage to a disguised king a fitting lesson on humility? I stuggle to see it. She didn't choose this man, who lied about who he was to her, made her work with things she wasn't prepared for or trained in, and ultimately "rescues" her from her miserable situation that her father and himself are responsible for, so she can feel "grateful" that she wasn't married to a true beggar that'd have kept her working as a a slave and imposed his marital rights on her. No, definitely not a fairy tale I find teaches the right lesson. With all due respect to Sendak's illustration skills, the story itself is disgustingly sexist.
Besides, how exactly is marriage to a disguised king a fitting lesson on humility? I stuggle to see it. She didn't choose this man, who lied about who he was to her, made her work with things she wasn't prepared for or trained in, and ultimately "rescues" her from her miserable situation that her father and himself are responsible for, so she can feel "grateful" that she wasn't married to a true beggar that'd have kept her working as a a slave and imposed his marital rights on her. No, definitely not a fairy tale I find teaches the right lesson. With all due respect to Sendak's illustration skills, the story itself is disgustingly sexist.
April 6, 2019
Cute story with a full-of-herself princess who rejects all her suitors then ends up with a penniless fiddler and must work for a living. An enjoyable little fairy-tale with a lesson to be learned in the end.
May 5, 2023
http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-sto...
I loved this Children's story!
A very mean biotch princess makes funny names of all her suitors and belittles them in front of everyone near her.
She is forced to marry a penniless dirty fiddler that makes her work and clean for a living. It turns out he's the King she calls Grisly-Beard! He teaches her a lesson about being a good person and cures her of her silly pride.
This would only happen to a Princess! The rest of us gotta work... Lol...
I loved this Children's story!
A very mean biotch princess makes funny names of all her suitors and belittles them in front of everyone near her.
She is forced to marry a penniless dirty fiddler that makes her work and clean for a living. It turns out he's the King she calls Grisly-Beard! He teaches her a lesson about being a good person and cures her of her silly pride.
This would only happen to a Princess! The rest of us gotta work... Lol...
April 8, 2019
This was a lovely little read about a proud and haughty princess who finds wrong with every possible suitor and can't help making fun of them until one day, her father, the King marries her to a penniless travelling fiddler who takes her to his home and makes her do all the work which cures her of her pride.
The lesson was cute in this one and I enjoyed how it ended.
Read here:
http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-sto...
The lesson was cute in this one and I enjoyed how it ended.
Read here:
http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-sto...
December 15, 2022
Edition with illustrations by Felix Hoffmann, not my favourite.
June 15, 2019
A lovely short tale. It will boost you up if you're not in a reading mood.
January 31, 2018
I liked the characters in this story and I also enjoyed the plot very much. I liked how the princess learnt her lesson and to ot judge a book by its cover. I thought that the story progressed well and the developement of the princess' character was wel done and it showed well how different events had changed her outlook on her life. The ending is a good one and if I were to read it again from the start the difference between the princess at the end and at the beginning would be strengthened.
May 17, 2016
This was a pretty good short story I read online about a princess who is taught a lesson after she made fun of others appearances. A great tale from the brothers Grimm. If you enjoy fairytales, definitely check this story out for yourself.
December 2, 2017
Just found this on Goodreads!! was one of my favorites when I was 10 :)
May 3, 2022
TLDR - a spoiled brat of a princess wears her father's patience thin so he marries her off to the one dude who is willing to marry her, and he teaches her a lesson about being such a brat.
However, it does beg one question - kids are usually bratty when they've been enabled for a long time by their parents, so the father's actions aren't entirely justified, especially as this passage makes clear... " But the old king was very angry when he saw how his daughter behaved and how badly she treated all his guests. He vowed that, willing or unwilling, she would marry the first man that came to the door."
So his lesson is to subject his daughter to possible sexual assault?
Yes, yes, this was a very different time, I know. Many of these old fairy tales would be horrifying today. Yes, the princess learns to not be a spoiled brat as her husband puts her to work and she learns now poor people live. And the poor husband she was forced to marry turns out to be none other than Grisly-beard (or Thresh-beard) and the two live happily ever after.
Still, looking from a modern-day perspective, the girl's father is a dick.
However, it does beg one question - kids are usually bratty when they've been enabled for a long time by their parents, so the father's actions aren't entirely justified, especially as this passage makes clear... " But the old king was very angry when he saw how his daughter behaved and how badly she treated all his guests. He vowed that, willing or unwilling, she would marry the first man that came to the door."
So his lesson is to subject his daughter to possible sexual assault?
Yes, yes, this was a very different time, I know. Many of these old fairy tales would be horrifying today. Yes, the princess learns to not be a spoiled brat as her husband puts her to work and she learns now poor people live. And the poor husband she was forced to marry turns out to be none other than Grisly-beard (or Thresh-beard) and the two live happily ever after.
Still, looking from a modern-day perspective, the girl's father is a dick.
January 9, 2019
While I enjoyed the illustrations, the story was not my favorite. The plot is reminiscent of The Taming of the Shrew without the humor. And while I agree people shouldn't be arrogant or haughty or judge others based on their looks, a marriage based upon deception and punishment doesn't feel right. For me, the ends did not justify the means.
October 4, 2012
Prefect fable, wonderful illustrations, and witty side conversations between the characters. A story within a story. All of this in a slim children's book.
Read
January 4, 2013This story reminds me of Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shew." Maybe the princess learned a lesson but I'm not sure that their marriage would be happy or not...
February 2, 2017
I loved this. Be humble and graceful. Work hard and be rewarded.
March 30, 2019
Good, short fairy tale with a lesson about humility.
March 19, 2022
I had a feeling that the fiddler was King Grisly-Beard and I was proven to be right. The title, the king's decision and the fact that the fiddler took her to King Grisly-Beard's land gave it away.
The princess is quite conceited and made fun of all of the guests and so you feel like she is supposed to deserve being humbled. Arrogance is not an attractive quality on anyone and society would especially detest it on a woman.
Even so, I felt bad for her that she ultimately ended up being forced to marry someone. That is a good reminder that women of that time were very much at their father's mercy. Her life with the fiddler also shows that once women are married they are at their husband's mercy. The princess, herself, did have an advantage in that she seemed to initially have the rare luxury of selecting her own husband and wasted it by mocking all of her suitors. However, I wonder if she mocked them, not just because of her own pride, but because she really did not want to marry any of them and was forced to marry someone of noble birth. She did not want to marry, expressed it in probably the worst way and was then forced to marry by her father.
It's always great to see characters who are arrogant get humbled. The princess was put through this by King Grisly-Beard. Even so, she still ended up marrying someone she did not want to marry. Once we find out the fiddler is King Grisly-Beard the narrative just says that everyone was happy. Honestly, after being put through what she went through, she would be pleased to be done with it and probably just settle for returning to royal life and being grateful for it. Still, by modern standards, she did not want to marry that man and might just eventually grow to dislike him, especially since he did put her through the things she disliked.
The story really overlooks the princess' choice, her father's choice and her husband's choice are given far more importance, as are marriage. She could have simply waited until she met someone she genuinely liked. The king could have found another way to deal with his daughter's arrogance. However, in such a time when a woman has a flaw that is particularly grating on men, she is punished harshly for it.
However, the story is very much of its time. It reminded me of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew which is controversial because of the treatment of women.
The princess is quite conceited and made fun of all of the guests and so you feel like she is supposed to deserve being humbled. Arrogance is not an attractive quality on anyone and society would especially detest it on a woman.
Even so, I felt bad for her that she ultimately ended up being forced to marry someone. That is a good reminder that women of that time were very much at their father's mercy. Her life with the fiddler also shows that once women are married they are at their husband's mercy. The princess, herself, did have an advantage in that she seemed to initially have the rare luxury of selecting her own husband and wasted it by mocking all of her suitors. However, I wonder if she mocked them, not just because of her own pride, but because she really did not want to marry any of them and was forced to marry someone of noble birth. She did not want to marry, expressed it in probably the worst way and was then forced to marry by her father.
It's always great to see characters who are arrogant get humbled. The princess was put through this by King Grisly-Beard. Even so, she still ended up marrying someone she did not want to marry. Once we find out the fiddler is King Grisly-Beard the narrative just says that everyone was happy. Honestly, after being put through what she went through, she would be pleased to be done with it and probably just settle for returning to royal life and being grateful for it. Still, by modern standards, she did not want to marry that man and might just eventually grow to dislike him, especially since he did put her through the things she disliked.
The story really overlooks the princess' choice, her father's choice and her husband's choice are given far more importance, as are marriage. She could have simply waited until she met someone she genuinely liked. The king could have found another way to deal with his daughter's arrogance. However, in such a time when a woman has a flaw that is particularly grating on men, she is punished harshly for it.
However, the story is very much of its time. It reminded me of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew which is controversial because of the treatment of women.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2024
Jacob Grimm, alongside his brother Wilhelm, is renowned for compiling "Grimm's Fairy Tales," a collection of German folktales. This book is a captivating journey into the heart of folklore, presenting a mixture of enchanting and sometimes dark stories that have fascinated readers for generations. Grimm's work is not just a mere collection of tales; it's a profound exploration of the human condition, morals, and the cultural heritage of Germany. The stories range from the well-loved "Cinderella" and "Snow White" to the less known but equally intriguing tales. Each story is a masterpiece of fantasy, imbued with timeless themes and moral lessons, making this book a valuable treasure for both young and adult readers. Jacob Grimm's contribution through this compilation has left an indelible mark on literature and continues to inspire the imagination of readers worldwide.
June 20, 2024
FULL REVIEW ON MY WEBSITE
https://thebookcornerchronicles.com/2...
The original tale is much better but also darker then the version kids see.
It is different but not that different from what you might remember from first hearing this tale as a kid.
The plot here are very good but also dark which is the mix which I personally like a lot.
The writing style here was very old and you could feel the vibe of old the Europe which was amazing for me.
https://thebookcornerchronicles.com/2...
The original tale is much better but also darker then the version kids see.
It is different but not that different from what you might remember from first hearing this tale as a kid.
The plot here are very good but also dark which is the mix which I personally like a lot.
The writing style here was very old and you could feel the vibe of old the Europe which was amazing for me.
October 2, 2017
I loved this story. A too pompous princess being put in her place by a mere fiddler, only to have the surprise of her life. This was well done and really teaches the life lesson of having too much pride. I love this and will likely read it many times again. I recommend this for sure!
October 27, 2017
When you are too proud, vain & selfish; you learn a lesson for your excess arrogance! Teaching a lesson to a self centered person is best to bring them back into their senses!
Really like the story (Y)
Here's the story http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-sto...
Really like the story (Y)
Here's the story http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-sto...
March 5, 2019
This was a very entertaining and interesting Grimm Brothers fairy tale.
May 30, 2021
Hah, she was definitely taught a lesson! Very predictable though.
October 17, 2021
This rating is for the edition illustrated by Maurice Sendak.
September 1, 2024
Random, and not in the necessarily good way.
September 17, 2020
I have the complete set of the Grimm Fairy-Tales, and there are so many that I haven’t read! They are very short, as one would know, so I have decided to read each one and give them a review. Some are very vulgar, some are very cute and some don’t even make sense. Some of them are well known fairy-tales and some have never been told. Some are fairy-tales we know but are not the same because they have been downplayed for the children.
The king as a beautiful but spoiled daughter. Not a surprise.
He sees that she is spoiled after she makes fun of all the princes that come and want her hand in marriage. So he marries her to a beggar.
WHAT.
So anyway, sorry for my mental breakdown, he begins to humble her spirit.
After many unfortunate events, she becomes a cook at the palace.
When her older brother is getting married, she makes a big mess of things and is made fun of!
So, will she get her happily ever after with the beggar? IDK READ THE BOOK.
The king as a beautiful but spoiled daughter. Not a surprise.
He sees that she is spoiled after she makes fun of all the princes that come and want her hand in marriage. So he marries her to a beggar.
WHAT.
So anyway, sorry for my mental breakdown, he begins to humble her spirit.
After many unfortunate events, she becomes a cook at the palace.
When her older brother is getting married, she makes a big mess of things and is made fun of!
So, will she get her happily ever after with the beggar? IDK READ THE BOOK.
June 19, 2019
What a great tale about not judging the book by its cover. That you should not judge someone by how they look or even better, to mock them on how they look. If you judge someone, you most likely will get your punishment for it. Like the princess in this story who had learned her lesson.
I love the tale just because it really can teach you a life lesson. I own the Complete Grimm Fairytales and with that some are not so popular. This being not a very popular one but it really should be. It should be a classic. It is to me. A must read.
I love the tale just because it really can teach you a life lesson. I own the Complete Grimm Fairytales and with that some are not so popular. This being not a very popular one but it really should be. It should be a classic. It is to me. A must read.
June 25, 2020
This is another classic story by the Brothers Grimm. An arrogant princess rudely makes fun of every suitor that comes to her kingdom to think of marriage. She even remarks that one king's bearded chin resembles the beak of a thrush. People call him King Thrushbeard. After this, the parents of the princess decide that she will be married to the next beggar they happen upon. She marries a fiddler and she is forced to learn humility. Like all of Grimms' tales, there is surprise at the end.
November 3, 2016
I'm still not too sure how I feel about the little boy and girl in the title pages that consent to act out the parts of the characters. I don't know what to make of that. But the story itself is good. It's a little weird at first, but it deals with social classes and gratefulness. It has a happy ending, so that's good. Lessons can be learned from it. Overall, it was a good book.
February 6, 2016
King Thrushbeard's story by the Brother's Grimm: Snotty princess rejects all suitors, angers father, gets wed to poor man, learns to be a better person, discovers poor man actually King she taunted earlier in story.
Illustrations are kooky and neat - really enjoyed them.
Illustrations are kooky and neat - really enjoyed them.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews