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We're back with a new series, and kicking things off with a spooky seasonal special!  What is a vampire? Where do they come from? And how does the British poet Lord Byron figure in all this? Find out as we get in the mood with the terrifying tale "The Vampire", taken from Alexander Afanasyev's Russian Fairy Tales. After the story, we embark on a blood-curdling voyage through the history of vampires - from their murky origins, through to the Austro-Hungarian Great Vampire Epidemic, Bram Stoker's Dracula, and Twilight. Linktree Patreon Merch Store Instagram Twitter/X Facebook [email protected] Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other music: Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain // Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor, Op 16

We finished another bonkers season of Grimm Tales, but who was paying attention? Join us for our live quiz where listeners battle it out for prestigious prizes, and we reveal the first stories of Series 9 coming later this year... You can watch the live quiz on YouTube via this link.  Linktree Patreon Merch Store Instagram Twitter/X Facebook [email protected] Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

The eighth season of tales is done and dusted. But which story got the most points? And which was left lagging at the bottom? We reveal the winners and losers of the series, hear what listeners have to say, and share an exclusive extra clip from Jack and the Beanstalk that didn't make the final cut - a deleted scene, if you will.  QUIZ! Saturday 11th July 7 pm (BST) Link to the Series 8 Live Quiz so you can subscribe and join in the fun. ... Linktree Patreon Merch Store Instagram Twitter/X Facebook [email protected] Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Dvořák's String Quintet No. 3 in E-flat Major // Dvořák's Humoresque

Fee fi fo fum, it’s time for a famous one... Join us as we read and review Jack And The Beanstalk. When a strange old man sells Jack some magic beans, his angry mother throws them out the window and sends Jack to bed.  But the next morning, a giant beanstalk stretches up into the clouds. What will Jack find up there? Will it end well for Jacky boy and his mum? And how many beans make five? Find out as we explore the origins of this endless iconic English fairy tale. Discover the historical roots of the tale, and the strange journey of the stock character Jack as he travelled the world.  Thank you so much for listening to another series. It’s been a blast.   ... Linktree Patreon Merch Store Instagram Twitter/X Facebook [email protected] Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Grieg's The Holberg Suite, V. Rigaudon, Oslo Camerata, Stephan Barratt-Due, conductor // Massenet's Toccata, performed by Jean Dube // 04 Schubert's Sonata in B Flat Major, D. 960 - IV. Allegro ma non troppo, performed by Paul Pittman

From the origin of hominids to The Fountain of Youth, join us on a mad romp with the Grimms' story, 'The Old Man Made Young Again.' When God shows off his skills to a blacksmith, the latter gets delusions of grandeur and tries to perform his own miracle - with predictably disastrous results. But just when he thought things couldn't get worse, his wife then suffers a peculiar and unexpected fate. After the story, we explore the themes of hubris, life giving waters, time travel, and the origin of apes. Discover how an unlikely 16th-century conquistador sparked a legend and why Florida is the place to go if you're long in the tooth.  ... Linktree Patreon Merch Store Instagram Twitter/X Facebook [email protected] Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Mozart's Piano Sonata No.11 in A Major III Alla Turca, performed by Bernd Krueger

An opportunistic onlooker robs a gang of their stolen loot. But when his brother demands to know where he got his riches, this new life of wealth starts to look precarious.  Will the gang discover the true thief? And will any escape alive? Find out as we read The Brothers Grimm’s Semsi Mountain.  After the story, we address the elephant in the room and dive straight in to a very famous similar story, the wonderful Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves.  Join our Patreon to hear our special episode on Ali Baba, or purchase a direct MP3 download here. ... Linktree Patreon Merch Store Instagram Twitter/X Facebook [email protected] Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, Op.35, The Kalendar Prince, performed by University of Chicago Orchestra // Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata Op. 27 No.2 - III. Presto performed by Paul Pitman

How much porridge is too much porridge? Find out as we read the Brothers Grimm's tale 'Sweet Porridge'. From Tom Cruise to giant Vikings, Great Flood myths to perpetual motion machines - this one is truly a wild ride. We discuss Goethe, Disney,  Bob Hoskins, Asbjørnsen and Moe, and much besides as we look at the many influences and obscure connections to this piece of narrative, folkloric fiction.  ... Linktree Patreon Merch Store Instagram Twitter/X Facebook [email protected] Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Chopin's Grande Valse Brillante, Opus 18 // Chopin's Fantaisie Impromptu, Op. 66.1 // Dvořák's String Quintet in E-flat Major, Op. 97

Witches, siblings, memory games, and magic - join us as we read and review 'The Lambkin And The Little Fish' from The Grimms' Fairy Tales.    An evil stepmother turns two siblings into a lamb and a fish. When she orders her cook to slaughter the lamb sister, how can the fish brother save her? And will they ever regain their human form?   In this episode, we discuss the Grimms' obsession with sibling adventure tales and hear another version of this folk tale type from Ottoman Turkey. Finally, we pick the next batch of stories that will lead us to the end of Series 8.  ... Linktree Patreon Merch Store Instagram Twitter/X Facebook [email protected] Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Mendelssohn's Lieder ohne Wortev (performed by Benjamin Moser, piano) // Chopin's Valse No. 6 in D flat major, Op. 64, No. 1 ('Minute' Waltz)

Four animals negotiate their time on Earth with God. Who will emerge with the most years? And is there a twist awaiting the victor? Join us as we read the Grimm fairy tale, “The Duration Of Life”. After the story, we discuss ideas of ‘the stages of life’ and ‘the ages of mankind’ from throughout history. Plus, we hear from a grumpy Sphinx and Matt reads his first Shakespeare soliloquy in a desperate attempt to win an Olivier Award.  ... Linktree Patreon Merch Store Instagram Twitter/X Facebook [email protected] Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Johannes Brahms' Op. 81 performed by Musopen Symphony // Johannes Brahms' Hungraian Dance No. 3 - Allegretto in F Major performed by Luis Sarro // Johannes Brahms' Hungraian Dance No. 7 - Allegretto in F Major performed by Andreas Pfaul

Things get weird as we read one of the most tantalisingly titled stories in the Brothers Grimm collection, 'One-Eye, Two-Eyes, and Three-Eyes'.   A young girl suffers at the hands of her mother and sisters. Will a magical goat be able to save her? And if not, can a passing knight offer the help she needs? Join us as we read a most peculiar Grimm tale, before debuting a new segment, "Eye Stories of Ancient Religions," where we try to make sense of the Grimms annotations and see where this all started. ... Linktree Patreon Merch Store Instagram Twitter/X Facebook [email protected] Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Beethoven's sonata No. 7 in C minor, Op. 30, No. 2 (Corey Cerovsek, violin; Paavali Jumppanen, piano) // Dvořák's Serenade for Strings Op.22 3 Scherzo // Maria Szymanowska's Polonaise No. 3 (Alexander Kostritsa, piano)

After a vicious attack on the family nest, four young sparrows are left to fend for themselves. When they return home, their anxious father enquires how they fared in the wide world. As each recounts their harrowing tale, we learn a valuable lesson in how to stay safe in a dangerous world.    Join us as we read the Grimms' tale, The Sparrow And His Four Children! More a sermon than a story, we discuss the origins of the tale, from the bible through to the Grimms, before hearing an Indian sparrow story about violent retribution - much more familiar ground.    ... Linktree Patreon Merch Store Instagram Twitter/X Facebook [email protected] Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Beethoven's Sonata no. 17 in D minor, Op. 31 no. 2 - III. Allegretto performed by Paul Pitman // Motzart's Sonata No. 13 In B Flat Major, K.333 - I. Allegro performed by Brendan Kinsella // Beethoven's 12 German Dances performed by Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra

After an ill-advised street brawl, Death gets back on his feet thanks to a helping hand from a passing young man. As a reward, Death promises to send his messengers before claiming the man himself. Will this newfound freedom cause trouble? And what exactly are these messengers? Yes, it's the return of the fan-favourite recurring character: Death! And as ever with Death, things are not quite as straightforward as they appear... After the story, we chase the messengers of death around the world with the help of a centuries-old academic journal, and discover why this folktale has more to do with Buddhism than the German peasantry.  ... Linktree Patreon Merch Store Instagram Twitter/X Facebook [email protected] Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Camille Saint-Saëns' Danse Macabre, Op. 40 (Marika Fältskogh, Marc Soustrot, Malmö Symphony Orchestra) // Chopin's Nocturne in B flat minor, Op. 9 no. 1

Come one, come all to this year’s Grimm Reading Christmas party! We engage in the usual frivolity with presents and festive cheer. And of course, we once more delve into the strange world of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s The Nutcracker And The Mouse King.    We also introduce a new segment - the Christmas monster of the year! We meet Jólakötturinn, aka The Yule Cat, a terrifying giant feline who roams Iceland on Christmas.    Have a wonderful Christmas season, wherever you are and we’ll see you in the new year.    ... Linktree Patreon Merch Store Instagram Twitter/X Facebook [email protected] Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Tchaikovsky's "Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy" & "The Magical Castle in the Kingdom of Sweets" from The Nutcracker Suite from the music.org European Archive

Has Christmas always been wholesome? What did Halloween steal from Christmas? And what happens when you bump into a Krampus? Join us for a special interview episode, where we talk to Sarah Clegg, author of "The Dead of Winter: The Demons, Witches and Ghosts of Christmas". We discuss her run-ins with Christmas monsters, learn about the surprisingly unruly history of Christmas celebrations, and hear why Jacob Grimm may have a lot to answer for... From wassailing to ghostly walks, this is Christmas in a whole new light. ... Linktree Patreon Merch Store Instagram Twitter/X Facebook [email protected] Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Tchaikovsky's Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

An industrious woman dreams big, but how will her husband, Long Laurence react when she reveals her plans?  An unexpectedly brutal tale leads to an exploration of 'air castles', from Aesop to Leo Tolstoy, and a man getting a faceful of rice gruel... This episode is Certified Grimm for adult themes and may not be suitable for all listeners. ... Linktree Patreon Merch Store Instagram Twitter/X Facebook [email protected] Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko Other Music: Brahms' Piano Trio No.2, Op.87 performed by Edwin Fischer, Wolfgang Schneiderhan, & Enrico Mainardi  // Brahms'  String Quintet No.1, Op.88 performed by Musicians from Marlboro // Brahms' 7 Fantasien, Op.116 performed by Ivan Ilić