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About Faithful John: From the Grimms’ Fairy Tales

“Faithful John,” a Brothers Grimm fairy tale, follows a loyal servant named John who promises a dying king to protect his son, the young prince, and keep him from harm. The king entrusts John with the secret of a forbidden room containing a portrait of a beautiful princess, warning that if the prince sees it, he will fall in love and face grave dangers. Despite John’s efforts, the prince discovers the portrait and insists on finding the princess to marry her. During their journey home with the new queen, John overhears three ravens foretelling three upcoming dangers for the royal couple and learns that revealing these dangers will turn him to stone. He secretly intervenes to save the king and queen from each peril, but the king misunderstands his actions and orders his execution. At the last moment, John reveals the ravens’ prophecy, instantly turning to stone. Years later, the king, wishing to revive John, learns he must sacrifice his own children to break the curse; he does so, and John is restored to life, then magically restores the children, and they all live happily ever after.