The 10 best bad fairies

Forget all those tales of wishes granted and teeth collected – the best fairies are deceitful, malicious and bad Michelle Harrison won the Waterstone’s children’s books prize in 2009 with her debut novel, The Thirteen Treasures, a Grimm-style story of a girl who can see fairies. She followed it with The Thirteen Curses and The Thirteen Secrets, the third instalment of the trilogy. “The first fairy story to have an impact on me was one invented by my older sister, Theresa. It was of a fairy who had been killed by a wicked witch and buried in our garden. The lack of a happy ending led me to wonder if it was true and, morbid child that I was, I dug in the flowerbeds in search of that fairy. After that I quickly became familiar with the usual tales of good fairies granting wishes and collecting teeth, and gradually lost interest, preferring stories of adventure, mystery, and ghosts. “My interest in fairies was revived unexpectedly during a college illustration course. I discovered the art work of Arthur Rackham, Alan Lee, and Brian Froud. It completely changed the way I viewed fairies and prompted me to research deeper into British folklore. There I found stories of fairies that were deceitful, malicious – even deadly. I knew I had to write about them, and I’ve been hooked on the darker side of fairy tales ever since. ” 1. Faeries by Brian Froud and Alan Lee Crammed with fairy folklore and hundreds of beautiful illustrations, this book will challenge your perception of fairies. From sinister stories of changelings to tales of water hags such as Jenny Greenteeth, this rich and fascinating book can be pored over or simply dipped into. This was my first introduction to ‘real’ fairies, and it remains a firm favourite and constant source of inspiration. 2. The Merrybegot by Julie Hearn One my my all-time favourite books, fairy or otherwise. Set in a West Country village, it’s the story of Nell, the cunning woman’s granddaughter, and what follows when she and her beloved granny are suspected of witchcraft. Though it focuses on superstition and healing, there are some quirky, and very amusing, piskie and fairy scenes. I absolutely love this book, and I’m forever recommending it to people. Every sentence is beautifully crafted and it’s a pleasure to read and re-read. 3. A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare Shakespeare’s witty and charming play tells of four young lovers who blunder into the crossfire of the warring fairy king and queen, Oberon and Titania. With the mischievous Puck administering love potions galore, the humans’ lives and emotions are manipulated beyond their control. Though the play ends well for all, for me there’s a sense of unease surrounding one of the couples, whose love is manufactured by the fairies rather than genuine. The version with Arthur Rackham’s gorgeous illustrations is my favourite. 4. Poison by Chris Wooding “Once upon a time there was a young lady who lived in a marsh, and her name was Poison…” So begins a fairy tale in the tradition of all great fairy tales. Poison, a wilful, sullen girl journeys to the phaerie realm in search of her younger sister, stolen from her bed. Though not necessarily a new premise, Wooding’s tale stands apart from others of its kind as a darker tale unfolds. A haunting book with vivid and sometimes gruesome characters, and my number one ingredient in any book – a fantastic ending. 5. Cold Tom by Sally Prue Sally Prue wastes no words in this odd and unsettling story which is loosely linked to The Ballad of Tam Lin . Tom knows he’s different from the rest of the Tribe, a beautiful but cruel race who see emotion as weakness, and love as being enslaved. Prue’s fairies are amongst the wildest I’ve come across. They tear raw flesh from animal bones with their teeth; they think of humans as hot, stinking, foul ‘demons’; and their only concern is survival. Chilling and unique. 6. Lady Cottington’s Pressed Fairy Book by Terry Jones, illustrated by Brian Froud Lady Angelica Cottington’s diary is one with a difference. Frustrated that no one believes in the fairies that only she can she, a quick snap of the book (intended for pressing flowers) manages to catch one of the little beasts between its pages. Humorously illustrated throughout by Brian Froud this is a visual treat, with the images of the squashed fairies (sometimes just the feet or a wing) becoming increasingly hilarious (and rude) as the story continues. For those concerned about the fairies’ well being, a disclaimer at the start explains that the images are merely ‘psychic impressions’ and that no fairies were harmed in the making. 7. The Crowfield Curse by Pat Walsh When Will rescues a hob from a trap in the woods, the creature shares a secret. Hidden in the forest is a grave. Some want to find it, while others want it kept hidden at all cost. The reader is propelled into the world of sinister fairies, or ‘fays’, and the Seelie and Unseelie courts. This book made me laugh and cry, and there is a strong message of bravery in going against the grain of what we are told is acceptable and right. The hob has swiftly become one of my favourite fairy characters. I wish I could smuggle him to Elvesden Manor – I think he’d be right at home with my own fairies. 8. Heretic by Sarah Singleton When Elizabeth finds a strange, green-skinned creature in the woods, she doesn’t immediately realise that it is in fact, a girl of her own age. Isabella has hidden for three centuries in the fairy realm in order to escape religious persecution – something Elizabeth is no stranger to. Her own family is harbouring a Catholic priest in Protestant England, risking the lives of them all. I’m a big fan of Sarah Singleton’s work. Gothic, well-researched, and evocative, Heretic weaves history and fantasy into an intelligent and bewitching story. 9. Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti Despite warnings from her sister, a young girl, Laura, falls victim to malicious goblin men peddling irresistible, enchanted fruit. In exchange for a lock of her hair and a tear drop, Laura eats the fruit and falls ill, nursed back only by Lizzie’s sisterly love. Rossetti’s cautionary poem can be read on several levels though there is ambiguity, even from the author, over whether it is intended for children. Many argue that the themes of temptation and forbidden fruit, and the nature of the descriptions would suggest not. 10. The Stolen Child by WB Yeats “Come away, O human child … With a fairy hand in hand…” This classic poem tells of a child being coaxed away by the fairies. On the surface its stunning imagery of the natural world comforts the reader into thinking the child is going to a better place, for as the fairies put it, the world is “full of weeping”. But the last verse of the poem, describing how the child will no longer hear everyday things such as the kettle boiling on the hob or the cows on the hillside, chokes me up every time. Loreena McKennitt puts the words to music in a song of the same title, which I’m very fond of. Fairytales guardian.co.uk

Posted by on March 23, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.