The real story of Snow White, the evil Queen and the mirror
Many of us grew up with the fairy tale Snow White: the beautiful princess, the evil stepmother, seven dwarfs, a poisoned apple and a handsome prince who saves the day and proves that love will conquer all.
It began as a rather macabre tale by the Brothers Grimm … until Disney took over the storytelling and made the story as saccharine and wholesome as could be.
For example, in the original fairy tale, the Queen wants proof that Snow White is dead so she requests the hunter bring her Snow White’s internal organs. Why? So she can eat them and become the most beautiful woman in the land.
There’s no such scene in the world of Disney.
But there’s another story behind the fairy tale that was long rumoured to be based on a true story.
And, like the fairy tale, it’s all about a beautiful young girl who grew up in a castle.
It was 294 years ago this month that the “real” Snow White was born and, just weeks ago, the Diocesan Museum in Bamberg, Germany displayed the newly restored gravestone of Maria Sophia von Erthal.
She was widely believed to be the original inspiration behind one of the most famous fairy tales of all time. But did she live happily ever after?
