The Cottingley Secret

The Cottingley Secret alternates between 1917 England and present day, connecting two timelines through the famous Cottingley fairy photographs. In 1917, young Frances Griffiths moves from South Africa to Yorkshire to live with her cousin Elsie Wright while her father serves in World War I. The story follows Frances and Elsie as they capture mysterious photographs of fairies in their garden, attracting the attention of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and sparking worldwide fascination. In the present-day timeline, a woman discovers an old bookshop in Ireland containing clues about the true story behind these historical photographs. The dual narratives explore themes of belief, imagination, and the power of stories to provide hope during dark times. The novel examines how the human need for magic and wonder persists across generations, especially during periods of hardship and uncertainty.

Readers describe this as a gentle, character-driven novel that weaves between past and present storylines. Many note it works best for those interested in the real Cottingley fairy photographs rather than those seeking a fast-paced narrative. Readers appreciated: - The historical research and period details - Connection to the real Cottingley fairy incident - The Ireland setting in modern sections - Writing style that creates atmosphere Common criticisms: - Slow pacing, especially in first half - Too much focus on modern storyline - Predictable plot developments - Characters make illogical decisions Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (5,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (450+ ratings) Sample reader comment: "Beautiful writing but moves at a snail's pace. The historical sections were more compelling than the modern day story." - Goodreads reviewer Another notes: "Expected more focus on the actual fairy photographs and less on the bookshop romance subplot." - Amazon reviewer

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★ The Cottingley Fairies photographs fooled even Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of the famously logical Sherlock Holmes, who wrote a passionate defense of their authenticity in 1920's "The Coming of the Fairies." ★ Frances Griffiths and Elsie Wright didn't admit the fairy photographs were faked until the 1980s, maintaining the hoax for over 60 years. However, Frances continued to claim that she had seen real fairies at the beck (stream) until her death. ★ The original cameras used to capture the Cottingley Fairy photographs were a Midg quarter-plate camera and later a Cameo quarter-plate camera - both cutting-edge technology for their time in 1917. ★ Author Hazel Gaynor extensively researched the Cottingley story by visiting the actual location in Yorkshire and examining Frances Griffiths' original manuscript at the Brotherton Library in Leeds. ★ The fairy photographs gained such widespread attention that prominent theosophist Edward Gardner arranged for photography experts at the Kodak company to examine them, though Kodak refused to issue a certificate of authenticity.