The Coming of the Fairies by Doyle, Arthur Conan

Occult Philosophy

The Coming of the Fairies

Name: The Coming of the Fairies
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Rating: 4.7 (2 reviews)
Author: Doyle, Arthur Conan
ISBN: 9781986618199

Doyle, Arthur Conan

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4.7

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📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

Conan Doyle staked his literary legacy on ethereal beings caught on film.

Step into a peculiar chapter of history with Arthur Conan Doyle's fervent defense of the Cottingley Fairies. In 1917, two young cousins, Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths, captured a series of five photographs depicting what appeared to be genuine fairies in their garden. A devoted spiritualist, Doyle championed these images as irrefutable proof of psychic phenomena, using them to illustrate his commissioned article for *The Strand Magazine*. This book delves into his passionate advocacy, exploring a public reaction divided between wonder and skepticism, and shedding light on a work that, for decades, remained a rare and controversial part of his bibliography.

Key themes

Perception & Authenticity Legacy & Public Image

Historical context

This work emerges from the early twentieth-century spiritualist movement, a period marked by intense public fascination with psychic phenomena and photographic evidence of the supernatural. It reflects the era's unique intersection of scientific inquiry and occult belief, particularly regarding the Cottingley Fairies controversy.

Doyle, Arthur Conan

📚 all books by this author (28) →

Difficulty

●● Moderate

Fans will love it

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's other works on spiritualism · Historical accounts of early 20th-century paranormal investigations · Literary analyses of the intersection between science and mysticism

🕯️ Occult Philosophy

🏛 Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 📅 2018 📖 98 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9781986618199

Fun fact

This remarkable volume offers a fascinating insight into Arthur Conan Doyle's passionate defense of the Cottingley Fairies, showcasing his deep commitment to spiritualism. While it brilliantly captures the spirit of an age hungry for wonder, those seeking a skeptical analysis or a traditional mystery will find themselves in unexpected territory. As a historical document of belief, an early media sensation, and a testament to Doyle's complex character, it holds a unique and often controversial position in the annals of occult and literary history.

📝 Description: The Coming of the Fairies

The Cottingley Fairies appear in a series of five photographs taken by Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths, two young cousins who lived in Cottingley, near Bradford in England. In 1917, when the first two photographs were taken, Elsie was 16 years old and Frances was 9. The pictures came to the attention of writer Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who used them to illustrate an article on fairies he had been commissioned to write for the Christmas 1920 edition of The Strand Magazine. Conan Doyle, as a spiritualist, was enthusiastic about the photographs, and interpreted them as clear and visible evidence of psychic phenomena. Public reaction was mixed; some accepted the images as genuine, but others believed they had been faked. Doyle championed the photographs, and in the process destroyed his reputation; which is probably why this book, out of all of the Doyle corpus, has rarely been put into print until now. The Coming of the Fairies was possibly a bigger disappointment for Doyle fans than when he killed off Sherlock Holmes. Interest in the Cottingley Fairies gradually declined after 1921. Both girls married and lived abroad for a time after they grew up, yet the photographs continued to hold the public imagination; in 1966 a reporter from the Daily Express newspaper traced Elsie, who had by then returned to the UK. Elsie left open the possibility that she believed she had photographed her thoughts, and the media once again became interested in the story. In the early 1980s Elsie and Frances admitted that the photographs were faked, using cardboard cutouts of fairies copied from a popular children's book of the time, but Frances maintained that the fifth and final photograph was genuine. The photographs and two of the cameras used are on display in the National Media Museum in Bradford.

💎 Expert review

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💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

This book is a compelling historical document for those interested in the Cottingley Fairies saga and Doyle’s role in legitimizing spiritualism through photography. However, readers seeking rigorous scientific debunking or purely fictional fairy tales will likely be disappointed. The text is primarily a defense of the photographs rather than an objective analysis, which may frustrate skeptics expecting impartiality. It is best suited for those who enjoy historical narratives about belief systems and media influence. If you prefer hard evidence over passionate advocacy, this volume may feel one-sided. Nevertheless, it remains a significant piece of literary and occult history that illuminates the cultural climate of its time.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers with a keen interest in the history of spirituality, the evolution of paranormal research, or the lesser-known aspects of Arthur Conan Doyle’s career will find this book highly rewarding. It offers a fascinating glimpse into a pivotal moment when photographic technology was used to claim proof of the supernatural. Those who appreciate historical controversies and the human desire to believe in the unseen will enjoy Doyle’s passionate advocacy. This text serves as an essential resource for understanding how public perception of fairies shifted from folklore to alleged scientific fact during the 1910s, making it a unique addition to any collection focused on esoteric history.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.8/5

★★★★★

If you're fascinated by the intersection of spiritualism, early photography, and folklore, or curious about the lesser-known pursuits of literary giants like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, this book offers a unique window into a pivotal cultural moment. Prepare for a journey into belief, skepticism, and…

Reader rating

4.7

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

This book is a compelling historical document for those interested in the Cottingley Fairies saga and Doyle’s role in legitimizing spiritualism through photography. However, readers seeking rigorous scientific debunking or purely fictional fairy tales will likely be disappointed. The text is primarily a defense of the photographs rather than an objective analysis, which may frustrate skeptics expecting impartiality. It is best suited for those who enjoy historical narratives about belief systems and media influence. If you prefer hard evidence over passionate advocacy, this volume may feel one-sided. Nevertheless, it remains a significant piece of literary and occult history that illuminates the cultural climate of its time.

❓ Frequently asked questions

The Cottingley Fairies refer to a series of five photographs taken by two young cousins, Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths, between 1917 and 1920 in Cottingley, England, purporting to show real, miniature winged beings.

As a devoted spiritualist, Doyle firmly believed in the existence of spirits and supernatural phenomena. He championed the Cottingley photographs as genuine evidence of the fairy realm, validating his broader philosophical convictions about the unseen world.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Perception & Authenticity

The book delves into how society grappled with the 'evidence' presented by the fairy photographs. It examines the interplay between belief, doubt, and the nascent power of photography to either confirm or deceive, highlighting the fascinating ways individual perspectives shaped acceptance or rejection of such extraordinary claims.

Legacy & Public Image

This volume offers a compelling look at how the Cottingley affair profoundly impacted Arthur Conan Doyle's public standing. It showcases a moment when his earnest belief overshadowed his literary achievements, becoming a touchstone for discussions about intellectual credibility and the enduring allure of the fantastic, even at a personal cost.

💬 Quotes from the book

“These tiny, winged inhabitants of our world are no mere figments; here, before our very eyes, is the irrefutable evidence of their delicate existence.”

“To dismiss such vivid documentation as mere childish fancy is to close one's mind to the boundless mysteries that undeniably surround us.”

📜 Historical context

Published in the wake of the devastating First World War, an era rife with spiritualist fervor and a yearning for meaning beyond the material, this book captures a society grappling with loss and seeking solace in the supernatural. It situates itself within a long tradition of fairy lore, amplified by the nascent power of photography, offering a tangible connection to the invisible world that many desperately sought.

📚 Glossary

Spiritualism
Cottingley Fairies
The Strand Magazine

📔 Questions to reflect on

How does personal belief influence the interpretation of evidence, especially when confronted with extraordinary claims?
Consider the role of photography in validating or debunking phenomena during the early 20th century. What parallels exist today with digital media?
If you had been alive in 1920, with the information available then, would you have believed in the Cottingley Fairies, and why?