"The real story?"

The visitor embarks on a journey of discovery through fascinating stories behind twelve well-known and lesser-known characters. Shown are the different shapes of Anansi, Bambi, Ferdinand the bull, the family from 'The Little House on the Prairie', Huckleberry Finn, Kantjil, Karagöz, the Moomins, Pinocchio, Max & Moritz, Heidi and the Little Mermaid. The museum wants to start a conversation by showing the different forms of the stories from the date of publication to the present. 

Over time, these stories underwent major changes under the influence of politics, commerce and changing pedagogical ideas, fashion and gender roles. The exhibition is based on the recently published book Springlevend. How classic books change meaning by Saskia de Bodt

Is the original story sacred?

One of the reasons for creating this exhibition based on the book Springlevend is the commotion that arose about Disney's choice of the dark actress Halle Bailey in 'The Little Mermaid' and the text changes in Roald Dahl's books. With 'The real story?' House of the Book wants to provide a context for these discussions by showing the history of these characters and books. The visitor is taken into a world with different versions of the books, film fragments, film posters and merchandise. Texts and images change over time: each generation adapts the characters and stories. Or appropriates the stories. Is that bad? Or is it a testament to the power of these stories?