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The Coming of the Fairies — Spiritualism

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The Coming of the Fairies

Name: The Coming of the Fairies
Price: 13.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Author: Doyle, Arthur Conan
ISBN: 9781770833258

✍️ Doyle, Arthur Conan

Reader Score

4.4

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, renowned creator of Sherlock Holmes, delves into the captivating mystery of the Cottingley fairies. This volume meticulously presents all available evidence, including the famous photographs themselves, empowering readers to form their own conclusions. Doyle carefully navigates the line between belief and skepticism, asserting that his work is a candid presentation of facts, not a plea for authenticity. He thoughtfully warns against facile dismissals, challenging readers to consider evidence beyond mere imitation.

Doyle, Arthur Conan

📚 all books by this author (28) →

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Spiritualism

🏛 Theophania Publishing 📅 2011 📖 120 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9781770833258

Fun Fact

Doyle's "The Coming of the Fairies" stands as a unique artifact, offering a window into early 20th-century spiritualism and the enduring human fascination with the unseen. It excels in its meticulous presentation of the Cottingley evidence and Doyle's surprisingly nuanced argumentation. Those seeking a definitive "yes" or "no" on fairy existence will be disappointed; this is a journey into the *process* of belief and skepticism. It holds a significant place among historical occult studies and works on unexplained phenomena.

📝 Description: The Coming of the Fairies

Thank you for checking out this book by Theophania Publishing. We appreciate your business and look forward to serving you soon. We have thousands of titles available, and we invite you to search for us by name, contact us via our website, or download our most recent catalogues. This book contains reproductions of the famous Cottingley photographs, and gives the whole of the evidence in connection with them. The diligent reader is in almost as good a position as I am to form a judgment upon the authenticity of the pictures. This narrative is not a special plea for that authenticity, but is simply a collection of facts the inferences from which may be accepted or rejected as the reader may think fit. I would warn the critic, however, not to be led away by the sophistry that because some professional trickster, apt at the game of deception, can produce a somewhat similar effect, therefore the originals were produced in the same way. There are few realities which cannot be imitated, and the ancient argument that because conjurers on their own prepared plates or stages can produce certain results, therefore similar results obtained by untrained people under natural conditions are also false, is surely discounted by the intelligent public. I would add that this whole subject of the objective existence of a subhuman form of life has nothing to do with the larger and far more vital question of spiritualism. I should be sorry if my arguments in favour of the latter should be in any way weakened by my exposition of this very strange episode, which has really no bearing upon the continued existence of the individual.

💎 Expert review

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💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Doyle presents a meticulous collection of evidence regarding the Cottingley fairies, inviting readers to judge for themselves rather than dictating a conclusion. While intellectually stimulating for those interested in the history of spiritualism, this volume may frustrate readers seeking definitive proof or those with rigid scientific materialism who reject any paranormal possibility. It is not suited for those expecting a straightforward debunking or a pure fantasy tale. However, for individuals willing to engage with historical context and photographic analysis without immediate dismissal, it serves as a valuable, candid exploration of one of history's most debated phenomena.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

This book is ideal for curious minds who appreciate the intersection of literature, history, and the unexplained. Readers fascinated by the Cottingley fairies will find a compelling narrative that challenges them to look beyond surface-level skepticism. It offers a unique perspective from a renowned logical thinker engaging with the irrational, providing a balanced view that respects both evidence and open-mindedness. Those who enjoy historical mysteries and the evolution of spiritualist thought will gain insight into how prominent figures navigated the line between fact and belief during a time of significant cultural shift toward esoteric studies.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

Curious minds interested in the history of unexplained phenomena, the psychology of belief, or the fascinating intersection of rationalism and the esoteric will find this compelling. It's also a must-read for any admirer of Arthur Conan Doyle's diverse intellectual pursuits.

Reader rating

4.4

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Doyle presents a meticulous collection of evidence regarding the Cottingley fairies, inviting readers to judge for themselves rather than dictating a conclusion. While intellectually stimulating for those interested in the history of spiritualism, this volume may frustrate readers seeking definitive proof or those with rigid scientific materialism who reject any paranormal possibility. It is not suited for those expecting a straightforward debunking or a pure fantasy tale. However, for individuals willing to engage with historical context and photographic analysis without immediate dismissal, it serves as a valuable, candid exploration of one of history's most debated phenomena.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Doyle presents the evidence impartially, explicitly stating that his narrative is not a "special plea" for authenticity. He aims to provide all facts so readers can draw their own conclusions.

Yes, this volume contains reproductions of the famous Cottingley photographs, central to the evidence presented and discussed by the author.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Skepticism vs. Belief

The author actively engages with skeptical arguments, particularly the idea that fakes invalidate all similar phenomena. He challenges critics to move beyond simplistic sophistry, advocating for a nuanced examination of evidence even when faced with the possibility of deception.

The Supernatural & Rationalism

This work explores the tension between rational inquiry and inexplicable events. Doyle, a figure often associated with logic, here grapples with the possibility of unseen realms, bridging the gap between scientific observation and the wonder of the supernatural.

📜 Historical context

Published in the early 20th century, this book emerges from a period marked by both rapid scientific advancement and a burgeoning interest in spiritualism and the occult. Doyle himself was a prominent spiritualist, and this work reflects his earnest attempt to apply empirical methods to phenomena often dismissed by mainstream science.

📚 Glossary

Cottingley Photographs
Sophistry
Spiritualism

📔 Questions to reflect on

How do you personally weigh anecdotal evidence against empirical proof when encountering unexplained phenomena?
Considering Doyle's warning against "sophistry," what examples in contemporary discourse might be similarly dismissing complex realities through oversimplification?
If you were presented with compelling visual evidence of something extraordinary, what criteria would you use to determine its authenticity?