Joseph Jacobs (29 August 1854 - 30 January 1916) was a folklorist, literary critic and historian. He was born in Australia, but came to England to attend St. John's College, Cambridge. He was a prolific writer on many aspects of Jewish history, and biblical archaeology. His works included contributions to the Jewish Encyclopedia, translations of European works, and critical editions of early English literature. English Fairy Tales is a wonderful compilation of stories curated by Joseph Jacobs. It includes many classic fairy tales, such as Jack and the Beanstalk, The Story of the Three Little Pigs, and more.