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Jack Zipes

    July 7, 1937

    Jack David Zipes is a retired Professor of German literature who delves extensively into the world of fairy tales. His work focuses on their linguistic roots and argues for their crucial "socialization function." Zipes posits that fairy tales offer not just compensation but also revelation, with the best among them exposing the discrepancies between truth and falsehood in our society, drawing on the neo-Marxist critical theory of the Frankfurt School. His scholarship is marked by a keen, often witty, approach to analyzing these enduring narratives.

    Aesop's Fables
    The Great Fairy Tale Tradition: From Straparola and Basile to the Brothers Grimm
    Ernst Bloch
    Spells of Enchantment: The Wondrous Fairy Tales of Western Culture
    Speaking Out
    The Norton Anthology of Children's Literature
    • 2025

      Remembering the Jewish and German Questions

      Essays on Fairy Tales, Poetry, and Culture

      • 152 pages
      • 6 hours of reading

      Exploring the intersections of cultural narratives, this collection features Jack Zipes's essays on fairy tales, Jewish studies, and German philosophy. It delves into the complexities of identity and tradition within the context of folklore and poetry, offering a critical examination of how these elements shape cultural discourse. Zipes's work sheds light on the broader implications of these themes in understanding the Jewish and German questions in literature and society.

      Remembering the Jewish and German Questions
    • 2023

      "In this capstone book, fairy tale expert Jack Zipes has assembled what he describes as his last theoretical and critical study of fairy tales. His purpose is to create a coherent collection that pays tribute to a group of writers that he views as 'survivors with a mission' whose tales inspire readers to this day. The book begins with a substantial introduction in which Zipes discusses the history of his interest in fairy tales and the motivation for his scholarship in the field. In a world filled with conflict, he writes, 'fairy tales can be used for enlightenment by all of us or abused by small groups of powerful people who seek domination.' The main text includes thirteen essays on notable authors of fairy tales--Édouard Laboulaye, Kurt Schwitters, Béla Bálazs, Christian Bärmann, Charles Godfrey Leland, Mariette Lydis, Ernst Bloch, Paul Vaillant-Couturier, Hermynia zur Mühlen, Lisa Teztner, Felix Salten, Emery Kelen, and Gianni Rodari--many of whom lived through revolutions and world wars or were otherwise compelled to confront political oppression during their lives. Zipes considers their cultural significance and their contributions to fairy tale literature, arguing that each deserves greater attention and appreciation. Some of the chapters have been adapted from previously published introductions Zipes wrote for the Oddly Modern Fairy Tales series, which he edits, and others are adapted from scholarly volumes that Zipes has published over his long career as a self-identified 'scholarly scavenger' of largely forgotten tales. Together, they create a portrait of the political stakes that have animated Zipes's lifelong fascination with the fairy tale, and explain why readers and writers alike continue to return to this narrative form"-- Provided by publisher

      Buried Treasures
    • 2019

      Ernst Bloch

      The Pugnacious Philosopher of Hope

      • 232 pages
      • 9 hours of reading

      Exploring the life and philosophy of Ernst Bloch, this book offers a thorough introduction to his influential ideas. It delves into his notable three-volume work, highlighting Bloch's unique position and impact within philosophical discourse, particularly in the English-speaking context. The text examines his themes of hope, utopia, and the potential for social change, providing insights into his contributions to Marxist thought and existentialism.

      Ernst Bloch
    • 2018

      Fairy Tales and Fables from Weimar Days

      Collected Utopian Tales / New and Revised Edition

      • 260 pages
      • 10 hours of reading

      This book is a collection of traditional German fairy tales and fables, deliberately transformed into utopian narratives and social commentary by political activists in the Weimar Republic (1919-1933). Against a backdrop of financial and political instability, widespread homelessness, and the reformation of public institutions, numerous gifted writers such as Berta Lask, Kurt Schwitters, Hermynia zur Mühlen, Oskar Maria Graf, Bruno Schönlank, and Joachim Ringelnatz responded to the need for hope among the common people by creating fairy tales and fables that offered a new and critical vision of social conditions. Though many of their tales deal with the grim situation of common people and their apparent helplessness, they are founded on the principle of hope. This revised edition includes over 50 illustrations by contemporary international artists who reveal how similar the Weimar conditions were to the conditions in which we presently live. In this respect, the Weimar fairy talesand fables have not lost their spirit and significance.

      Fairy Tales and Fables from Weimar Days
    • 2017

      Tales of Wonder

      • 240 pages
      • 9 hours of reading

      A pictorial history of fairy-tale postcards from the late 19th century to the present, this volume presents a fascinating look at how key scenes of fairy tales have been rendered over time, suggesting a rethinking and reliving of the tales through the years. Full color. 12 x 12.

      Tales of Wonder
    • 2017

      Jack Zipes has always been a kind of sorcerer himself, skilled in discovering, transforming, translating, and understanding the old tales of magic that appear in different but similar forms all over the world. This is a wonderful collection. - Alison Lurie, author of Don't Tell the Grown-Ups: The Subversive Power of Children's Literature

      The Sorcerer`s Apprentice - An Anthology of Magical Tales
    • 2016

      Makes available in English all 156 stories from the 1812 and 1815 editions of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimms' Children's and household tales. Zipes offers accessible translations that retain the spare description and storytelling style of the originals, reflecting the diverse voices, rooted in oral traditions, that are absent from the Grimms' later, more embellished collections of tales. From 'The Frog King' to 'The Golden Key, ' wondrous worlds unfold--heroes and heroines are rewarded, weaker animals triumph over the strong, and simple bumpkins prove themselves not so simple after all. --From publisher description

      The Complete First Edition - The Original Folk & Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm
    • 2016

      When Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm published their Children's and Household Tales in 1812 and 1815, they could not have anticipated that stories like “Rapunzel,” “Hansel and Gretel,” and “Cinderella” would become globally celebrated. However, many tales from these early volumes remain unfamiliar today, as the Grimms released six revised editions over the next four decades. This collection makes available in English all 156 stories from the original editions for the first time. Newly translated and beautifully illustrated by award-winning artist Andrea Dezsö, these tales—from “The Frog King” to “The Golden Key”—unfold wondrous worlds where heroes and heroines are rewarded, weaker animals triumph, and simple characters reveal hidden depths. Esteemed fairy tale scholar Jack Zipes provides accessible translations that preserve the engaging storytelling style of the originals, showcasing the diverse voices rooted in oral traditions that later editions lack. Zipes's introduction offers essential historical context, and the book includes the Grimms' prefaces and notes. This collection presents these timeless stories to a new generation of readers, making it a delightful read for all.

      The original folk and fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm
    • 2015

      Don't Bet on the Prince

      Contemporary Feminist Fairy Tales in North America and England

      • 284 pages
      • 10 hours of reading

      Originally published in 1987, this book offers insights and analysis on its subject matter, reflecting the academic rigor and publishing standards of Routledge, a respected imprint of Taylor & Francis. The work contributes to the broader discourse in its field, providing valuable perspectives that remain relevant to contemporary discussions.

      Don't Bet on the Prince
    • 2015

      Grimm Legacies

      • 288 pages
      • 11 hours of reading
      3.5(19)Add rating

      In Grimm Legacies , esteemed literary scholar Jack Zipes explores the legacy of the Brothers Grimm in Europe and North America, from the nineteenth century to the present. Zipes reveals how the Grimms came to play a pivotal and unusual role in the evolution of Western folklore and in the history of the most significant cultural genre in the world―the fairy tale.Folklorists Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm sought to discover and preserve a rich abundance of stories emanating from an oral tradition, and encouraged friends, colleagues, and strangers to gather and share these tales. As a result, hundreds of thousands of wonderful folk and fairy tales poured into books throughout Europe and have kept coming. Zipes looks at the transformation of the Grimms' tales into children's literature, the Americanization of the tales, the "Grimm" aspects of contemporary tales, and the tales' utopian impulses. He shows that the Grimms were not the first scholars to turn their attention to folk tales, but were vital in expanding readership and setting the high standards for folk-tale collecting that continue through the current era. Zipes concludes with a look at contemporary adaptations of the tales and raises questions about authenticity, target audience, and consumerism.With erudition and verve, Grimm Legacies examines the lasting universal influence of two brothers and their collected tales on today's storytelling world.

      Grimm Legacies