Introducing the Wilds'

Lisette Wild: b. 1782, 28 years old in 1810
Lisette Wild spoke French and was responsible for bringing several French stories, such as those recorded/written by Charles Perrault, into the Grimm's canon of stories.  She was the eldest of the Wild sisters. Jack Zipes attributes Rumpelstilskin to Lisette.

Gretchen Wild:  b. 1787, 23 years old in 1810

Gretchen was married when the brothers began collecting the tales and was one of Wilhelm’s first tellers. The Wilds lived across the street from the Grimms and were middle class, with their protective father running an apothecary shop.  Stories attributed to Gretchen include The Child of Mary, Prince Swan, and Godfather Death.

Dortchen Wild:  b. 1795, 15 years old in 1810

Dortchen was a pet name for Dorothy, which was also her mother’s name.  She was a favorite of both Wilhelm and Ferdinand, who knew her as a girl and later as a grown lady.  (Think Amy from Little Women).  She later married Wilhelm and when Jakob moved in with them, she jokingly referred to Jakob and Wilhelm as “her two husbands.”  Stories attributed to Dortchen include Hansel and Gretel, Frau Holle, The Singing Bone, and The Six Swans, which the play attributes to Lottie.

Marie Elisabeth (Mimi) Wild:  b. 1988, 12 years old in 1810

Mimi would have been just older than Dortchen and was an active participant in the gathering of the tales.  One of the stories particularly attributed to Mimi is Godfather Death, a fairly dark story about a man who is apprenticed to the Grim Reaper.

Hanna and Rose Wild:

Hanna and Rose would have been between Gretchen and Dortchen.  They were also active contributors to the folktale collection.  They would have been unmarried maidens at the time of the story.  Their father was quite protective of them and would have been hesitant to let them go to a ball or major social event.

Rudolph Wild:

As a boy in the family, Rudolph would have had more freedom than his sisters.  While we do not have particular stories attributed to Rudolph, it appears that he was an active contributor and participant in the gathering.