Grimm Reading

Merry Christmas to one and all! Join us for another end of year party at Grimm Castle, where we delve deep into The Nutcracker And The Mouse King, almost completely losing our minds. We then sober up with a special surprise short story, featuring some unlikely characters… So join us for a cracker, a mince pie, spiced wine, gifts, and merriment a-plenty at this year’s Grimm Reading Christmas party.  ... Linktree Patreon Merch Store Instagram Twitter/X Facebook grimmreadingpodcast@gmail.com Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music:  Tchaikovsky's" Dance Of The Flutes" and "Russian Dance" from The Nutcracker Suite from the music.org European Archive // Sergei Prokofiev - Lieutenant Kije Suite: Troika, performed by Sao Paulo Symphony Orchestra // Tchaikovsky's "Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy" from The Nutcracker Suite performed by Kevin Macleod

For one last time, the Devil's grandma is back. After three soldiers desert the army, they make a bargain with the Devil for their souls. After seven fun-filled years, the Devil arrives to claim his debt. But perhaps Grandma can offer our unlikely heroes a helping hand... Riddles, dragons and magic whips - join us for The Devil And His Grandmother. We also talk dragons in the bible, and explore the fascinating legend of Faust and the Faustian pact, through Marlowe to Goethe. ... Linktree Patreon Merch Store Instagram Twitter/X Facebook grimmreadingpodcast@gmail.com Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Demersseman's Solo de Concert no. 4, Op. 80 // Chopin's Étude Op. 10, no. 5 in G flat major - 'Black Keys' // Chopin's Nocturne in C sharp minor 'Lento con gran espressione', B. 49 (Op. posth.) // Wagner's Faust Overture

In this interview episode, we talk to author and poet Clare Pollard about her latest novel: The Modern Fairies. Set in the Paris and Versailles of Louis the XIV, the novel drops us into the heart of Madame D’Alnouy’s illustrious, raucous, and radical salon. It's "Disney meets Dangerous Liaisons" and a brilliant, cosy read. We talk to Clare about fairy tales, writing, salons, audiobooks and plenty more besides.  Discover Clare's writings through her website. You can also subscribe to her Substack and follow her on Instagram.  And treat yourself to a copy of The Modern Fairies while you're at it. ... Linktree Patreon Merch Store Instagram Twitter/X Facebook grimmreadingpodcast@gmail.com Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Adam's Christmas comes early as we find ourselves in an enchanted cat castle in this week's Grimm story.  When an old miller challenges his apprentices to find the best horse, one befriends a cat who promises to help. But is she more than she seems? After the story, we find ourselves in early-modern Paris where we meet fairy tale behemoth Madame D'Aulnouy. We hear of her extraordinary life as well as a short version of her related story, The White Cat.  ... Linktree Patreon Merch Store Instagram Twitter/X Facebook grimmreadingpodcast@gmail.com Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Liszt's Waltz aus dem Ballet Die Amazonen // Leroy Anderson's The Waltzing Cat, performed by Markus Staab // Schumann's Scenes from Childhood, Op. 15 - III. Blind Man's Buff, performed by Donald Betts

We take on Donkey Cabbages - one of the most bizarre and barmy tales we've heard in a while. Not only do we get witches, giants and magic clouds, we also discover a new concept - the minimal counterintuitive hypothesis. What makes a story stick? Some scientists think they've found the answer... We then briefly look at man-donkeys in storytelling, say hi to Shakespeare, and meet the long-forgotten German folkhero Fortunatus. Here's a link to the paper we discuss in the episode: Memory and Mystery: The Cultural Selection of Minimally Counterintuitive Narratives ... Linktree Patreon Merch Store Instagram Twitter/X Facebook grimmreadingpodcast@gmail.com Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Grieg's Holberg Suite, from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston // Massenet's Toccata Jules Massenet, performed Jean Dube

It’s getting spooky in the castle as we read Baba Yaga and the Brave Youth.   Will our hero escape the clutches of our favourite Slavic witch? Why does Baba Yaga love spoons so much? And has she secretly been a mother all along?   Join us round the fire to find out all this and more. Happy Halloween everyone!   Linktree Patreon Merch Store Instagram Twitter/X Facebook grimmreadingpodcast@gmail.com Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Rachmaninoff's Canon in E Minor, performed by Luis Kolodin // Rachmaninoff's String Quartett No. 2 performed by Steve Jones // Rachmaninoff's Etudes-Tableaux Op. 39 performed by Peter Bradley-Fulgoni // Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor

We’re back with a brand new series and a brand new volume of tales... And we begin with The Four Skillful Brothers, a story of masterly thievery, improbable astronomy, dastardly dragons, and a man who sews up eggs. After the story, we explore its origins before doing a deep dive on dragons: including the history of rescuing princesses from dragons in storytelling, and a patriotic stretch where we look into the Welsh red dragon and the story of St. George. We can’t wait to get stuck into Volume 2; thanks for sticking around! Linktree Patreon Merch Store Instagram Twitter/X Facebook grimmreadingpodcast@gmail.com Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Dvorak's Romance for violin and piano, performed by Goldstein and M Pavel // Schubert's Fantasy in C Major Op.15 D.760 'Wanderer' - I. Allegro con fuoco

We have our winner! Step on into the castle for a glitzy awards night where we reveal the Grimmbledon champion, as well as the results of the Special Awards. Thank you so much to everyone who's listened and taken part. We're away now for the rest of the summer. Click here to pick up a copy of our special Aladdin episode to see you through the hot (northern) summer days, otherwise we'll meet again round the fire for the Grimms' Volume 2 later in the year! As always, keep it grimm. Twitter Facebook Instagram Patreon   grimmreadingpodcast@gmail.com Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 4, op. 58, G major (1st movement, allegro moderato), performed by Debbie Hu // Brahms' Waltz op. 39, No. 15, performed by Paul Cantrell 

Find out which four stories survived the Semi-Finals and made it to the finals! Voting for the final is live right now. Cast your vote here: https://forms.gle/xkvy8aVEd9EH4qkT9  Or visit www.grimmreading.wordpress.com/final In the episode, we also read out voters' comments with their reasoning for their choices. And we launch a final Special Awards Poll. It's all go here as we ramp up for the final! We'll be back soon to crown a champion. In the meantime, keep it grimm! Twitter Facebook Instagram Patreon   grimmreadingpodcast@gmail.com Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music:  Beethoven's Sonata No. 8 in C Minor Pathétique, Op. 13 - III. Rondo - Allegro 1

The time has arrived to finish off the Grimms’ Children’s Legends, and in this episode we hear the four remaining stories: The Twelve Apostles, Poverty And Humility Lead to Heaven, The Heavenly Wedding, and The Hazel Branch. We again do our best to parse the piety and manage the misery, and rate them out of 10. Still one day left to vote in Semi-Final 2. Link here: https://forms.gle/TjJnhyuZ3uVKEvrRA Twitter Facebook Instagram Patreon   grimmreadingpodcast@gmail.com Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Brahms' Piano Sonata no. 3 in Fm, Op. 5 - I. Allegro maestoso, performed by Luis Sarro 

It's the second (and last) of the Semi-Finals. Re-discover the sweeping and strange histories of the four competing stories and then cast your vote!  Semi-Final 2 voting link: https://forms.gle/TjJnhyuZ3uVKEvrRA Battling it out are the tales: The Two Brothers The Valiant Little Tailor The Fisherman And His Wife The Elves And The Shoemaker The top two tales from the poll will secure themselves a place in the Grand Final. Twitter Facebook Instagram Patreon   grimmreadingpodcast@gmail.com Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Brahms' Cello Sonata Cello Sonata No.1, Op.38, performed by Colliard and Ligoratti

It's the first of the two Grimmbledon Semi-Finals, where four of the stories that survived the Group Stage are battling it out for a place in the Grand Final... Semi-Final 1 voting poll link: https://forms.gle/DeeZ9bpmxsMUFDJ86 After recapping the stories in the Group Stage, this episode we delve a little deeper into some background information, ATU types, and related tales, to help inform your decisions. The top two tales from the poll will secure themselves a place in the Grand Final... so vote carefully! Twitter Facebook Instagram Patreon   grimmreadingpodcast@gmail.com Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Brahms' Variations on a Theme by Joseph Haydn Op. 56b Var. VII performed by Neal O'Doan

Twenty Grimm stories have fought it out in the Group Stages, but only eight have made it through to the Semi-Finals... Find out which tales got the most public votes and secured their spot!  Twitter Facebook Instagram Patreon   grimmreadingpodcast@gmail.com Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music:  Beethoven's Sonata No. 8 in C Minor Pathétique, Op. 13 - III. Rondo - Allegro 1

This time we take on the Grimms’ Children’s Legends, including the stories: The Three Green Twigs, God’s Food, The Aged Woman, and The Rose. We do our best to make sense of the misery and rate them out of 10. Still one day left to vote in Group D. Link here: https://forms.gle/BJSvF6SVVkYGdHcF8   Twitter Facebook Instagram Patreon   grimmreadingpodcast@gmail.com Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Brahms' Piano Sonata no. 3 in Fm, Op. 5 - I. Allegro maestoso, performed by Luis Sarro 

The initial Group Stage of the tournament concludes with Group D. Group D voting poll link: https://forms.gle/BJSvF6SVVkYGdHcF8 We’re pitting our highest-scoring Brothers Grimm tales against each other to decide their ultimate story. We open the episode with a recap of the five Grimm stories in the group: The Valiant Little Tailor Rapunzel Gambling Hansel Sweetheart Roland The Girl Without Hands And we also launch a special award poll for the “Best Ending” award. Twitter Facebook Instagram Patreon   grimmreadingpodcast@gmail.com Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Brahms' Violin sonata no. 3 in D minor, Op. 108, 2nd mvt. Adagio, performed by Oliver Cobentson // Brahms' 7 Fantasien, Op. 116 Cappriccio in D Minor, performed by Ivan Ilic

The tournament continues with Group C. Group C voting poll link: https://forms.gle/gv5os8j1gEdaNd7L7 We’re pitting our highest-scoring Brothers Grimm tales against each other to decide their ultimate story. We open the episode with a recap of the five Grimm stories in the group: Cinderella The Two Brothers The Juniper Tree The Wishing-Table, The Gold-Ass, And The Cudgel In The Sack Thumbling And we also launch a special award poll for the “Best Catchphrase” award. Twitter Facebook Instagram Patreon   grimmreadingpodcast@gmail.com Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Grieg's Sonata No. 3 in C minor, 1st mvt. Allegro molto appasionato // Schubert's Sonata in A Minor, D. 959 - III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace, performed by Paul Pitman

The tournament continues! We’re pitting our highest-scoring Brothers Grimm tales against each other to decide their ultimate story. This episode: Group B.  Group B voting poll link: https://forms.gle/cZwGF7YTY4UDi31eA We open the episode with a recap of the five Grimm stories in the group: Little Red Riding Hood The Three Little Men In The Wood Sleeping Beauty The Elves And The Shoemaker The Story Of The Youth Who Went Forth To Learn What Fear Was Then we launch a special award poll for the “Best Death” award. And, finally, we read the Children’s Legend “St Joseph In The Forest.” Twitter Facebook Instagram Patreon   grimmreadingpodcast@gmail.com Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Antonio Vivaldi's Violin Concerto in F minor, RV 297 II. Largo (performed by The Wichita State University Chamber Players and John Harrison)

The tournament begins! We’re pitting our highest-scoring Brothers Grimm tales against each other to decide their ultimate story. First up, we have Group A.  Group A voting poll link: https://forms.gle/JVeBVQaomVTNToXx7 We open the episode with a recap of the five Grimm stories in the group: Puss In Boots Hansel And Gretel The Fisherman And His Wife Clever Gretel Godfather Death Then we launch a special award poll for the “Most Iconic Piece Of Clothing” award. And, finally, we read the Children’s Legend “Our Lady’s Little Glass.” Twitter Facebook Instagram Patreon   grimmreadingpodcast@gmail.com Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Edvard Grieg's Once Upon a Time (Balazs Szokolay, piano)

Welcome to Grimmbledon! We've finished Volume 1 of the Grimms' fairy tales and it's time to decide once and for all which was the best story we read. 20 tales will be battling it out to earn the crown of the best story. In this episode, we announce the contenders and put them into 5 different groups by drawing lots.  Twitter Facebook Instagram Patreon   grimmreadingpodcast@gmail.com Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

We're proud to present The Princess And The Pea by the Brothers Grimm for the first time ever in the English language! Hidden in the Grimms' 5th edition of fairy tales, their version was never translated into English - until now! A crack team of translators has helped us to bring this episode to life, we can't thank you enough.  After the story, we explore what it's trying to tell us before heading into the past, where we trace its origins beyond Hans Christian Andersen to medieval Kashmir.  Twitter Facebook Instagram Patreon   grimmreadingpodcast@gmail.com Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Dvorak's String Quartet no. 12  in F major 'American', Op. 96 - I & III // Schubert's 09 Sonata in A Minor, D. 959 - III. Scherzo. Allegro vivace Paul Pitman