 Though de Morgan is one of the lesser known authors of literary fairytales, her works, heavily influenced by Hans Christian Andersen, are remarkable in deviating from the fairytale norm – often not including a happy ending, or not having the protagonist gain wealth or power (rather procuring the wisdom of recognising the value of living without these things); and in the satirical element of political comment in her works.According to the "Greenwood Encyclopedia of Folk Tales and Fairy Tales", the fairytales of Mary de Morgan played a "comprehensive and central role" in her era in the evolution of the literary fairytale.Her story, "The Toy Princess", was featured on the BBC children's TV show "Jackanory" in 1966, and the same story featured on "Jackanory Playhouse" in 1981.