In every case, the Maiden’s fate remains the same: To reverse the curse, she must remain completely silent for several years. In others, their stepmother curses them herself. In some versions of the story, the Maiden’s brothers turn into birds after she unknowingly disturbs a magical item. In all of them, it’s up to one young girl, “the Maiden,” to rescue a group of boys who’ve been turned into swans. Ĭommonly known versions of “The Maiden Who Rescues Her Brothers” include the “The Seven Doves” by Giambattista Basile, “The Wild Swans” by Hans Christian Andersen, and three stories - “The Six Swans,” “The Seven Ravens,” and “The Twelve Brothers” - by the Brothers Grimm. But one in particular- Wanda Gág’s version of “The Maiden Who Rescues Her Brothers” - has stuck with me from the first time I picked up the 1982 picture book edition. There’s something inspirational about them, a little voice that whispers: Anyone can be a hero, including you.
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