Grimms’ Fairy Stories, as it is commonly known today, is originally the Children’s and Household tales which is a collection of German origin fairy tales first published in 1812 by Jacob & Wilhelm Grimm, the Brothers Grimm. The first volumes were much criticized because they were not regarded as suitable for children, both for the scholarly information included & the subject matter. Many changes through the editions – such as turning the wicked mother of the first edition in Snow White & Hansel and Gretel to a stepmother, were probably made with an eye to such suitability. They removed sexual references, such as Rapunzel’s innocently asking why her dress was getting tight around her belly, & thus naively revealing her pregnancy and the prince's visits to her step mother, but, in many respects, violence, particularly when punishing villains, was increased. (Wikipedia)
