The Brothers Grimm, Jacob Grimm and Wilhelm Grimm, were German scholars and folklorists born in the late 18th century. They are best known for collecting and publishing traditional European folk and fairy tales, which include famous stories like Cinderella, Snow White, and Hansel and Gretel. Their work aimed to preserve German culture and language during a time of national identity formation. In addition to their fairy tale collections, the Brothers Grimm also contributed to linguistics and philology. They developed the Grimm's Law, which describes the systematic sound changes in the Germanic languages. Their legacy continues to influence literature, storytelling, and cultural studies worldwide.