Runge’s Fairy Tales

Philipp Otto Runge · Low German · 1806

Philipp Otto Runge, self-portrait with brown collar — Philipp Otto Runge, Self-portrait with brown collar, c. 1802. Public domain, Wikimedia Commons.

Philipp Otto Runge wrote down two of the best-known fairy tales in the world – in Low German, just as they were told on the Pomeranian coast. Through the Brothers Grimm they travelled around the world. You will find both here.

Listen to the fisherman tale

Two fairy tales

Pen drawing: the fisherman walks towards the old hovel, trees bending in the wind — Otto Ubbelohde, 1909. Public domain.

Von dem Fischer un syner Fru

The audio story in Low German: told by Dr. Barbara Roggow, with harp music by Markus Thalheimer.

Listen now →

Pen drawing: a family at the table in a parlour — Otto Ubbelohde, 1909. Public domain.

Von dem Machandelboom

Achim von Arnim printed it in July 1808 in the “Zeitung für Einsiedler”; Runge’s own manuscript is lost. Runge found it “more melancholy than sad”.

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