The Grimm Brothers, Jacob and Wilhelm, were German scholars and folklorists known for their collection of fairy tales. Born in the late 18th century, they published their first volume of tales in 1812, which included famous stories like Cinderella, Snow White, and Hansel and Gretel. Their work aimed to preserve German folklore and culture, making these stories accessible to a wider audience. In addition to their fairy tales, the Grimm Brothers contributed to linguistics and philology. They developed the Grimm's Law, which describes the systematic phonetic changes in the Germanic languages. Their legacy continues to influence literature and popular culture today.