In 1917 two girls in Cottingley, England convinced the world that fairies lived at the creek on their property. They even took photos to prove they were telling the truth. Experts examined the photos and declared them to be real, and the story they told lived on for decades, eventually even being made into a film.
Marc Tyler Nobleman’s book, Fairy Spell: How Two Girls Convinced the World That Fairies Are Real is fascinating both for the glimpse it provides into a time when many people thought fairies existed and for it’s “story behind the story” told about this moment in history.
I was particularly struck that one of the girl’s mothers brought the story to the world’s attention after approaching a speaker at a presentation on fairies. It’s difficult to imagine that a well respected speaker would talk to an audience of adults in today’s world about the possibility that fairies are real. It’s easy to see that in an environment where fairies are possible, providing “evidence” can convince even skeptics. Even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, believed the girls spoke the truth.
The girls didn’t tell the truth about what happened until they became old, and even then one of them continued to say she really did see fairies, adding to the mystery.
Eliza Wheeler’s illustrations include rich details and are evocative of the time period the story took place. Also, the girls’ photos and other historical documents let readers get a feel for the debate that went on. It’s a fascinating story that will likely capture the imaginations of young children and adults alike. I also recommend the movie, FairyTale: A True Story (1997), on the same topic.
The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I ran across the book “Fairy Spell” in a catalog and was quite interested in the write up about it. Then I was disappointed that it claims the people in 1983 said it was a hoax….I’m not sure it was and why they would have said so so many years later, unless they decided they didn’t want people to think they were nuts and would follow their name after death. I’m sure they got a lot of it while alive. You see, their write up about the book could have been mine. I have Actual photos too and they look like the front of their book.In fact I have a paranormal book out through Barnes and Noble or Amazon and there is are a group of ‘fairy’ pictures on page 173 which have some pictures resembling the cover of their book. I need to get hold of the author privately if you have any connection for me to do that. I don’t want aa web site where the whole world hears my story, even though it might be good for my sales “May Those With Ears and with Eyes see” book. I want to talk with him himself. Thanks in case you can help me .
Thanks for your comment. I don’t have contact info for the author, but I believe if you search for his name you may find his personal website and contact info.