The Cottingley Secret

The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor       Audio Book:  11 hours, 2 minutes     Hardback Book: 416 pages                

The Cottingley Secret tells the story of young cousins Elsie and Frances who actually became known historically for photos taken of themselves with what appear to be fairies.   This is historical fact, the two girls were live people not characters and they did become known for photos they took near their home with what was actually thought at the time (1917-1922) to be genuine photos of fairies.   So much so that the Theosophical Society and many newspapers sent investigators out to interview them and try to capture their own photos of fairies which the girls maintained wouldn’t come out if adults were present.   Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, probably the Society’s second most famous member after Helena Pamlova Blavatsky,  researched the girl’s stories and photos and declared them genuine.   This telling of those actual events is a fictionalization of the events and the conversations of the two girls along with many side stories and even a jump from then to current day with a lovely story there as well.    An enjoyable read especially if you are familiar with the actual events and even more so if you like fairy stories.     The book presents arguments for their existence as well as arguments against their existence.    Who can say?    Very well written and enjoyable.   There are many things that cannot be explained in this world and there is a fairy ring around one of the trees in my yard along with two garden gnome statues.    Sometimes at night there are unusual lights that go by in the low hanging branches of the tree outside my window.    Larger and brighter than fireflies smaller than but similar to those mysterious lights seen at Stonehenge.     Frances always maintained that she did see real fairies as a child although those fairies were never photographed.    Perhaps fairies are attracted to the innocence and open mindedness of young children who are allowed to see them because of their belief, and having been around as long as stories of yore tell us, why wouldn’t fairies have learned a thing or two about blending into the background?   They are small and fast afterall,  so it is said.   And with all the damage human kind has unleashed on the earth why would they want to come out in the open to be caught, killed or put on display?    Not all humans get it.   But children have it over adults.     A quote from Jesus says, “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in heaven.”  (Matthew 18:4)   It is all about belief.