The episode of the Cottingley Fairies did nothing to enhance the reputation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who was taken in by the hoax along with many others, and widely ridiculed as a result.
It all started in 1917 when cousins Elsie Wright, aged 17, and Frances Griffiths, aged nine, took photos of themselves in their garden with what appeared to be dancing fairies and a tiny gnome. In fact they were cleverly crafted coloured cut outs supported by hatpins, but enough people were taken in by the trick for serious discussions about the existence of fairies to arise over a number of years. Conan Doyle went into print more than once on the subject. Around 20 years ago a film of the story was released.
Now the two images are coming up for auction with hopes of £2000.
It’s astonishing a century on that so many people could have been taken in by the hoax, but I believe Conan Doyle should be seen in a more sympathetic light. He had already lost a wife and son and developed a serious interest in spiritualism over a period of 30 years. The thought of life after death and the possibility of being able to contact lost loved ones must have been highly appealing and a great comfort to him.
The Cottingley Fairies episode would have added to his fascination and research and he was keener on being remembered for this side of his life than for his fiction.
