Children everywhere are familiar with the fairy-tale world of the Brothers Grimm, who made "once upon a time" a part of our universal vocabulary-but few people know much about the brothers themselves. Inspired by their desire to document their national literary heritage, the two devoted brothers spent most of their adult years collecting and publishing German Märchen and Sagen, fairy tales and legends. This thorough and compelling biography addresses the social, political, and historical influences that shaped the lives and stories of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. This thorough and compelling biography examines the lives of brothers Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, who, inspired to document their national and literary heritage, devoted much of their adult years collecting and publishing German fairy tales and legends. Illustrated with archival prints and photographs.