Researchers at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań have discovered a treasure trove of literary history, discovering 27 original volumes from the private library of the Brothers Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm.

Portrait of the Brothers Grimm, by Elisabeth Baumann, 1855. Credit: Wikimedia Commons

These renowned German academics, celebrated for their collection and publication of traditional folklore, including classics like “Hansel and Gretel” and “Little Red Riding Hood,” also made significant contributions to Germanic philology throughout their lives.

Considered lost since World War II, these volumes have resurfaced in the University Library. Professor Eliza Pieciul-Karmińska from the Faculty of Modern Languages and Renata Wilgosiewicz-Skutecka from the University Library spearheaded the search.

Jacob Grimm’s studio at Linkstrᴀsse 7 in Berlin, 1860, watercolor by Moritz Hoffmann. Credit: Germanisches Nationalmuseum / Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek

In addition to their renowned fairy tales, the Grimms devoted much of their lives to the study of language history, amᴀssing a collection of over 8,000 volumes. This collection, meticulously annotated and marked by the brothers themselves, serves as a bibliophilic treasure and a rich resource for understanding their research methodologies.

Credit: Public Domain

“The very fact that they have been found allows us to believe that the book collections at the Library can hold other volumes that belonged to the private book collection of Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm,” remarked the researchers.

The volumes discovered in Poznań contain handwritten notes and underlining. The relocation of library collections during and after the war played a crucial role in preserving these volumes. The researchers explained, “It is believed that the books arrived at the University Library in Poznań during the post-war period due to the relocation of library collections during and after the war.”

By analyzing and documenting the annotations found within these volumes, researchers aim to gain a deeper understanding of the Grimms’ enduring impact on literature and linguistics.

More information: Pieciul-Karmińska, E., & Wilgosiewicz-Skutecka, R. (2024). Prywatna biblioteka braci Grimm i odnaleziony fragment księgozbioru w Bibliotece Uniwersyteckiej w Poznaniu. Biblioteka, (27 (36)), 49–78. doi:10.14746/b.2023.27.4