Top 10 Fairies From Fairy Tales And Literature – A Guest Post By Elizabeth Hopkinson

Photo: Disney Learn more

How do you like your fairies? Fun and sparkly? Dark and dangerous? Big? Small? Wings? No wings?

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Fairies have appeared in many guises over the centuries, from oral folklore to literary creations.

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To celebrate the release of Tales from the Hidden Grove, here are ten of my top fairies from fairy tale and literature.

Picture: Morgan Le Fay by Frederick Sandys Learn more

The Fairy Godmother (Cinderella)

She is in the version most of us know best and remember from our earliest days, whether from books, film, pantomime or ballet. 01. Photo: Disney Learn more

The Blue Fairy (Pinocchio)

02. Generally known as the fairy who grants Pinocchio’s wish to become a real boy, provided he can be good. Photo: ABC Learn more

Tinker Bell (Peter Pan)

03. I think the reason we all like Tinker Bell is because she is naughty! Photo: Disney Learn more

The Wicked Fairy (Sleeping Beauty)

04. Call her what you will – Maleficent, Carabosse – this is the fairy we learned to dread in our cradles. Photo: Disney Learn more

The Gentleman with the Thistledown Hair (Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell)

05. He genuinely believes he is doing his victims a good turn by abducting them to join him in endless, dreary balls under the earth. Photo: BBC Learn more

Swipe up to read the entire list!

Picture: La Belle Dame Sans Merci by Frank Dicksee Learn more