Brothers Wilhelm & Jacob Grimm
The Sleeping Beauty by Henry Maynell Rheam
Brothers Jacob & Wilhelm Grimm collected hundreds of folktales from all over Germany during thier careers. While credited with preserving these stories, many of which may have been lost with the degredation of the oral tradition, they are also accused of having censored & Christianised many of the traditional tales of their native country.
"Little Briar Rose" was first published in 1812 and was later revisited and reworked by the brothers, again being published in 1857. It is the latter that this synopsis is of.
Synopsis of "Little Briar Rose"
A King & Queen want a child
A Frog predicts child's birth
12 Wise Women invited to a big celebration about the princess' birth
1 Wise Woman was not invited and so curses the princess, saying that when she reaches 15 she will prick her finger on a spindle & die
12th Wise Woman changes the curse so that the Princess will sleep for 100 years rather than die
King burns all the spinning wheels trying to escape his daughters fate
The Princess turns 15 and discovers a spindle, which she pricks her finger on and falls asleep
Everyone in the kingdom sleeps for 100 years and a giant thorned hedge grows around the palace
Many Princes try to break the spell - they all die in the briars
On the last day of the 100 years a Prince is let through the briars
Prince awakes the Princess with a kiss - everybody wakes up
The Prince marries the Princess & they live happily ever after