50. The Sleeping Beauty (Briar Rose)

Evil curses, dangerous spinning, long lie-ins, and daring princes – in our series two finale we tackle one of fiction’s most enduring stories: The Sleeping Beauty (or Briar Rose).

A spurned wise woman puts a castle to sleep for a hundred years. Many princes have tried to breach its wall of thorns but none have ever succeeded. Has the time finally come for the right man to lift the curse?

We discuss prudish victorians, fatalism, and creepy frogs, before finally venturing on an epic journey to trace the evolution of Sleeping Beauty from viking Iceland to Walt Disney.

Thank you so much to everyone who’s stuck with us on this journey, we’ve had a blast this series and can’t wait to join you back at Grimm Castle later in the year for series 3. Until then, stay safe and keep it grimm.

This episode is “Certified Grimm” for adult content, and may not be suitable for all listeners.

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Theme music: Bicycle Waltz by Goodbye Kumiko

Other Music: Debussy's Arabesque No. 1, performed by Steve's Bedroom Band // Chopin's Opus 10 Twelve Grand Etudes A flat major performed by Martha Goldstein // Debussy's Arabesque No. 1 (on piano) andantino con moto, performed by Gerluz // Tchaikovsky's No. 6 Grande valse villageoise (Garland Waltz) from The Sleeping Beauty ballet, performed by the Kirov Orchestra