The Bremen Town Musicians

The Bremen Town Musicians (in German, Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten) is a remarkable fable written in 1812 by the celebrated Brothers Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm.

The story tells the wonderful odyssey of a donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster who are mistreated by their owners and decide to go to the city of Bremen, where they intend to become professional musicians and regain their freedom.

This fable symbolizes the story of four peasants who revolt against the feudal regime imposed by their masters, remarkably adapted by the brothers Grimm by transforming human characters into animals.

The four animals represent the different social classes; their owners stand for the feudal rulers of the time; and Bremen epitomises a free (Hanseatic) city with no feudalism, the natural place to live free from masters and from slavery.

The illustrations of The Bremen Town Musicians are by Annelien Smet, a talented Belgian illustrator based in the city of Ghent, Belgium. With a background from the University of Ghent, she produces illustrations for magazines, newspapers and books worldwide, as well as creative campaigns.