Reviews
"Murphy's...finding of books in the Grimms' library is significant. Many previous scholars have acknowledged that fairy tales contain 'fragments of ancient faith,' and with this new information, readers can appreciate 'to what degree and in what particular direction' the Grimm tales wereChristianized."--Philadelphia Inquirer, "Grimm's fairy stories have almost never been considered from [the] perspective [of religious meaning]....Now along comes G. Ronald Murphy...ready to take the plunge into the deeps....Features a neat bit of literary detective work....My summary can only hint at the sparkling intelligence ondisplay in Murphy's readings of the texts....He has added several dazzling layers of meaning to the tales."--Philip Zaleski, First Things, "Here is a fresh, erudite, and highly readable study of the beloved fairy tales of the brothers Grimm. Ronald Murphy advances our understanding of the Classical, Germanic, and Christian sources of these stories in a manner comparable to what Bruno Bettelheim did twenty-five years ago from theperspective of modern psychiatry. Murphy proves that the Grimms were deeply influenced by biblical faith and that this spiritual vision is the most important key for unlocking the rich meaning of their stories. The Owl, the Raven, and the Dove is a book not just for the sharp-toothed academic. Iearnestly recommend it to parents and those who teach young people, or just anyone who loves fairy tales."--Vigen Guroian, author of Tending the Heart of Virtue: How Classic Stories Awaken a Child's Moral Imagination, "IsHansel and Gretla story about Christ's resurrection? DidLittle RedRiding Hoodwear red because she was a confirm and during the liturgical seasonof Pentecost? G. Ronald Murphy raises these fresh possibilities in The Owl, theRaven, and the Dove: The Religious Meaning of the Grimms' Magic Fairy Tales.According to Murphy, Wilhelm Grimm was 'more of a private, mystic soul' than amoralizer, and incorporated themes of pagan-Christian harmony into hisimaginative fairy tales.Murphy debate[s] other literary perspectivesthroughout." - Publishers Weekly, "IsHansel and Gretl a story about Christ's resurrection? DidLittle Red Riding Hoodwear red because she was a confirm and during the liturgical season of Pentecost? G. Ronald Murphy raises these fresh possibilities in The Owl, the Raven, and the Dove: The Religious Meaning of the Grimms'Magic Fairy Tales. According to Murphy, Wilhelm Grimm was 'more of a private, mystic soul' than a moralizer, and incorporated themes of pagan-Christian harmony into his imaginative fairy tales.Murphy debate[s] other literary perspectives throughout." -Publishers Weekly, "Combining new documentation and an imaginative use of familiar sources,Ronald Murphy links Germanic myth to Christian liturgy in Wilhelm Grimm'seditorial practice. The unexpected result is a striking reinterpretation of themost familiar Grimm tales- Hansel and Gretel, Little Red Riding Hood,Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty- as Christian narratives of encodedbaptism and redemption." -Ruth B. Bottigheimer, State University of New York atStony Brook, "Murphy's work is a treasure-trove of examples for a unit on the role ofreligion in folk literature....[an] enlightening, compellingtext."--RSiSS, "Literary and cultural analysis of the highest order....Murphy shows inthis book how thrilling it can be when our understanding of familiar storiesthat we enjoy and routinely share with our children is carefully--andlovingly--deepened and enriched by an astute guide."--renton Times, "Here is a fresh, erudite, and highly readable study of the beloved fairytales of the brothers Grimm. Ronald Murphy advances our understanding of theClassical, Germanic, and Christian sources of these stories in a mannercomparable to what Bruno Bettelheim did twenty five years ago from theperspective of modern psychiatry. Murphy proves that the Grimms were Deeplyinfluences by biblical faith and that thi spiritual vision is the most importantkey for unlocking the rich meaning of their stories. The Owl, the Raven, andthe Dove is a book not just for the sharp tothed academic. I earnestlyrecommend it to parents and those who teach young people, or just anyone wholoves fairy tales." -Vigen Guroian, author of Tending the Heart of Virtue: HowClassic Stories Awaken a Child's Moral Imagination, "Here is a fresh, erudite, and highly readable study of the beloved fairy tales of the brothers Grimm. Ronald Murphy advances our understanding of the Classical, Germanic, and Christian sources of these stories in a manner comparable to what Bruno Bettelheim did twenty five years ago from theperspective of modern psychiatry. Murphy proves that the Grimms were deeply influenced by biblical faith and that this spiritual vision is the most important key for unlocking the rich meaning of their stories. The Owl, the Raven, and the Dove is a book not just for the sharp-toothed academic. Iearnestly recommend it to parents and those who teach young people, or just anyone who loves fairy tales."--Vigen Guroian, author of Tending the Heart of Virtue: How Classic Stories Awaken a Child's Moral Imagination, "Literary and cultural analysis of the highest order....Murphy shows in this book how thrilling it can be when our understanding of familiar stories that we enjoy and routinely share with our children is carefully--and lovingly--deepened and enriched by an astute guide."--Trenton Times, "Grimm's fairy stories have almost never been considered from [the]perspective [of religious meaning]....Now along comes G. Ronald Murphy...readyto take the plunge into the deeps....[Features] a neat bit of literary detectivework....[My] summary can only hint at the sparkling intelligence on display inMurphy's readings of the texts....[He] has added several dazzling layers ofmeaning to the tales."--Philip Zaleski, First Things, "Combining new documentation and an imaginative use of familiar sources, Ronald Murphy links Germanic myth to Christian liturgy in Wilhelm Grimm's editorial practice. The unexpected result is a striking reinterpretation of the most familiar Grimm tales- Hansel and Gretel, Little Red RidingHood, Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty- as Christian narratives of encoded baptism and redemption."--Ruth B. Bottigheimer, State University of New York at Stony Brook, "Fr Ronald Murphy has done the Bothers Grimm a great service. But he has done more than that. He has brought home to us the essientially hospitable nature of the stories."-- The Tablet, "Murphy's work is a treasure-trove of examples for a unit on the role of religion in folk literature....[an] enlightening, compelling text."--RSiSS, "Is Hansel and Gretl a story about Christ's resurrection? Did Little Red Riding Hood wear red because she was a confirm and during the liturgical season of Pentecost? G. Ronald Murphy raises these fresh possibilities in The Owl, the Raven, and the Dove: The Religious Meaning of the Grimms'Magic Fairy Tales. According to Murphy, Wilhelm Grimm was 'more of a private, mystic soul' than a moralizer, and incorporated themes of pagan-Christian harmony into his imaginative fairy tales. Murphy debate[s] other literary perspectives throughout."--Publishers Weekly, "...an itelligent, charming, and informative book." -- The Chesterton Review"...lively, careful, insightful, thoughtful, and provocative--a significant contribution to fairy tale studies." --Journal of American Folklore"Grimm's fairy stories have almost never been considered from [the] perspective [of religious meaning]....Now along comes G. Ronald Murphy...ready to take the plunge into the deeps....Features a neat bit of literary detective work....My summary can only hint at the sparkling intelligence on display in Murphy's readings of the texts....He has added several dazzling layers of meaning to the tales."--Philip Zaleski, First Things"Literary and cultural analysis of the highest order....Murphy shows in this book how thrilling it can be when our understanding of familiar stories that we enjoy and routinely share with our children is carefully--and lovingly--deepened and enriched by an astute guide."--renton Times"Murphy's...finding of books in the Grimms' library is significant. Many previous scholars have acknowledged that fairy tales contain 'fragments of ancient faith,' and with this new information, readers can appreciate 'to what degree and in what particular direction' the Grimm tales were Christianized."--Philadelphia Inquirer"Here is a fresh, erudite, and highly readable study of the beloved fairy tales of the brothers Grimm. Ronald Murphy advances our understanding of the Classical, Germanic, and Christian sources of these stories in a manner comparable to what Bruno Bettelheim did twenty five years ago from the perspective of modern psychiatry. Murphy proves that the Grimms were deeply influenced by biblical faith and that this spiritual vision is the most important key for unlocking the rich meaning of their stories. The Owl, the Raven, and the Dove is a book not just for the sharp tothed academic. I earnestly recommend it to parents and those who teach young people, or just anyone who loves fairy tales." -Vigen Guroian, author of Tending the Heart of Virtue: How Classic Stories Awaken a Child's Moral Imagination"Wilhelm Grimm has found a worthy modern expositor- almost a brother- in Ron Murphy, whose gifts of research, sympathetic insight, and ecumenical religious imgination mirror those of the romantic literary genius, Wilhelm himself. Father Murphy's archival discoveries have allowed him to reconstruct Wilhelm's generous religious mentality, and his new readings of the tales in view of this mindset will come as a revelation to professional students of the Grimm's tales and to the general reader alike." -Joseph Harris, Harvard University, "Fr Ronald Murphy has done the Bothers Grimm a great service. But he has done more than that. He has brought home to us the essientially hospitable nature of the stories."--The Tablet, "...an itelligent, charming, and informative book." -- The Chesterton Review "...lively, careful, insightful, thoughtful, and provocative--a significant contribution to fairy tale studies." --Journal of American Folklore "Grimm's fairy stories have almost never been considered from [the] perspective [of religious meaning]....Now along comes G. Ronald Murphy...ready to take the plunge into the deeps....Features a neat bit of literary detective work....My summary can only hint at the sparkling intelligence on display in Murphy's readings of the texts....He has added several dazzling layers of meaning to the tales."--Philip Zaleski, First Things "Literary and cultural analysis of the highest order....Murphy shows in this book how thrilling it can be when our understanding of familiar stories that we enjoy and routinely share with our children is carefully--and lovingly--deepened and enriched by an astute guide."--renton Times "Murphy's...finding of books in the Grimms' library is significant. Many previous scholars have acknowledged that fairy tales contain 'fragments of ancient faith,' and with this new information, readers can appreciate 'to what degree and in what particular direction' the Grimm tales were Christianized."--Philadelphia Inquirer "Here is a fresh, erudite, and highly readable study of the beloved fairy tales of the brothers Grimm. Ronald Murphy advances our understanding of the Classical, Germanic, and Christian sources of these stories in a manner comparable to what Bruno Bettelheim did twenty five years ago from the perspective of modern psychiatry. Murphy proves that the Grimms were deeply influenced by biblical faith and that this spiritual vision is the most important key for unlocking the rich meaning of their stories. The Owl, the Raven, and the Dove is a book not just for the sharp tothed academic. I earnestly recommend it to parents and those who teach young people, or just anyone who loves fairy tales." -Vigen Guroian, author of Tending the Heart of Virtue: How Classic Stories Awaken a Child's Moral Imagination "Wilhelm Grimm has found a worthy modern expositor- almost a brother- in Ron Murphy, whose gifts of research, sympathetic insight, and ecumenical religious imgination mirror those of the romantic literary genius, Wilhelm himself. Father Murphy's archival discoveries have allowed him to reconstruct Wilhelm's generous religious mentality, and his new readings of the tales in view of this mindset will come as a revelation to professional students of the Grimm's tales and to the general reader alike." -Joseph Harris, Harvard University, "Wilhelm Grimm has found a worthy modern expositor- almost a brother- in Ron Murphy, whose gifts of research, sympathetic insight, and ecumenical religious imgination mirror those of the romantic literary genius, Wilhelm himself. Father Murphy's archival discoveries have allowed him toreconstruct Wilhelm's generous religious mentality, and his new readings of the tales in view of this mindset will come as a revelation to professional students of the Grimm's tales and to the general reader alike." -Joseph Harris, Harvard University, "Murphy's...finding of books in the Grimms' library is significant. Manyprevious scholars have acknowledged that fairy tales contain 'fragments ofancient faith,' and with this new information, readers can appreciate 'to whatdegree and in what particular direction' the Grimm tales wereChristianized."--Philadelphia Inquirer, "Wilhelm Grimm has found a worthy modern expositor- almost a brother- inRon Murphy, whose gifts of research, sympathetic insight, and ecumenicalreligious imgination mirror those of the romantic literary genius, Wilhelmhimself. Father Murphy's archival discoveries have allowed him to reconstructWilhelm's generous religious mentality, and his new readings of the tales inview of this mindset will come as a revelation to professional students of theGrimm's tales and to the general reader alike." -Joseph Harris, HarvardUniversity
