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The Cottingley Secret
The author of The Girl Who Came Home turns the clock back to a time when two young girls convinced the world that fairies really did exist…
1917: When two young cousins, Frances Griffiths and Elsie Wright from Cottingley, England, announce they have photographed fairies at the bottom of the garden, their parents are astonished. But when the great novelist, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, endorses the photographs’ authenticity, the girls become a sensation; their discovery offering something to believe in amid a world ravaged by war.
One hundred years later… When Olivia Kavanagh finds an old manuscript and a photograph in her late grandfather’s bookshop she becomes fascinated by the story of the two young girls who mystified the world. As Olivia is drawn into events a century ago, she becomes aware of the past and the present intertwining, blurring her understanding of what is real and what is imagined. As she begins to understand why a nation once believed in fairies, will Olivia find a way to believe in herself?
1917: When two young cousins, Frances Griffiths and Elsie Wright from Cottingley, England, announce they have photographed fairies at the bottom of the garden, their parents are astonished. But when the great novelist, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, endorses the photographs’ authenticity, the girls become a sensation; their discovery offering something to believe in amid a world ravaged by war.
One hundred years later… When Olivia Kavanagh finds an old manuscript and a photograph in her late grandfather’s bookshop she becomes fascinated by the story of the two young girls who mystified the world. As Olivia is drawn into events a century ago, she becomes aware of the past and the present intertwining, blurring her understanding of what is real and what is imagined. As she begins to understand why a nation once believed in fairies, will Olivia find a way to believe in herself?
481 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2017
931 people are currently reading
13980 people want to read
About the author
Hazel Gaynor
22 books3,923 followersHazel Gaynor is an award-winning New York Times and internationally bestselling author of historical novels which explore the defining events of the 20th century. A recipient of the 2015 RNA Historical Novel award and the 2024 Audie award for Best Fiction Narrator, she was also shortlisted for the 2019 HWA Gold Crown, and the Irish Book Awards in 2017, 2020 and 2023.
Hazel’s co-written historical novels with Heather Webb have all been published to critical acclaim, winning or being shortlisted for several international awards.
She is a regular speaker at literary festivals, co-founder of The Inspiration Project, and programmed and hosted a series of Historia Live events in association with Dublin UNESCO City of Literature in 2024. Her work is translated into 20 languages and published in twenty-seven territories to date. Her latest novel, Before Dorothy, the imagine life story of Dorothy’s Aunt Em from The Wizard of Oz, will be published in June 2025.
Hazel lives in Ireland with her family.
For more information, visit www.hazelgaynor.com
where you can also sign up for her newsletter.
Hazel’s co-written historical novels with Heather Webb have all been published to critical acclaim, winning or being shortlisted for several international awards.
She is a regular speaker at literary festivals, co-founder of The Inspiration Project, and programmed and hosted a series of Historia Live events in association with Dublin UNESCO City of Literature in 2024. Her work is translated into 20 languages and published in twenty-seven territories to date. Her latest novel, Before Dorothy, the imagine life story of Dorothy’s Aunt Em from The Wizard of Oz, will be published in June 2025.
Hazel lives in Ireland with her family.
For more information, visit www.hazelgaynor.com
where you can also sign up for her newsletter.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,296 reviews
September 2, 2017
This book is so very magical 💕 It was my feel good book and let me give justice to the amazing cover! I want to go there!!
This story is about Frances and Elsie from the past and Olivia from present day.
Olivia has come home to Ireland to get her grandparents (nana & pappy) things in order. Olivia's sweet grandfather has died and he left her his bookshop, Something Old. He sold old books as you can figure from the title. Olivia is trying to decide if she wants to go back to London and get married or stay in Ireland and run the bookshop.
Olivia's grandmother is in a home because she has the horrible disease of Alzheimer's. =( Olivia has to go through all the things in her grandparents cottage and look into selling it, which she doesn't want to do.
Meanwhile, Olivia is finding out some things about a little girl from the past that she was related to. Frances was the girl who saw fairies and had the picture to prove it.
Little did Frances know, her and Elsie would be known worldwide because Sir Arthur Conan Doyle took an interest in the picture and believed them. The girls didn't want to be famous, they just wanted to show their family. Be careful of what you do!
Like I said before, this is a magical book. There are so many wonderful things in the book that you need to find out for yourself. The book is about finding out who you really are and setting out for your own dreams.
This book is about Hope, Love & Fairies ♥
Don't stop believing =)
Mel ♥
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
This story is about Frances and Elsie from the past and Olivia from present day.
Olivia has come home to Ireland to get her grandparents (nana & pappy) things in order. Olivia's sweet grandfather has died and he left her his bookshop, Something Old. He sold old books as you can figure from the title. Olivia is trying to decide if she wants to go back to London and get married or stay in Ireland and run the bookshop.
Olivia's grandmother is in a home because she has the horrible disease of Alzheimer's. =( Olivia has to go through all the things in her grandparents cottage and look into selling it, which she doesn't want to do.
Meanwhile, Olivia is finding out some things about a little girl from the past that she was related to. Frances was the girl who saw fairies and had the picture to prove it.
Little did Frances know, her and Elsie would be known worldwide because Sir Arthur Conan Doyle took an interest in the picture and believed them. The girls didn't want to be famous, they just wanted to show their family. Be careful of what you do!
Like I said before, this is a magical book. There are so many wonderful things in the book that you need to find out for yourself. The book is about finding out who you really are and setting out for your own dreams.
This book is about Hope, Love & Fairies ♥
Don't stop believing =)
Mel ♥
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
August 23, 2017
Whimsical, lyrical, a pure delight, and I fell into this magical story just like Alice falling into the rabbit hole. It is 1917 and Nine year old Frances and her mother leave South Africa for Cottingley, England to stay with family while her father fights in the war. There she find a cousin, Elsie, 16 who introduces Frances to the Beck. Despite their age difference the girls become fast friends, it is here there are said to be fairies. Here they will take pictures that seem to prove it, pictures that will haunt the girls for many years, even bringing Arthur Conan Doyle into their sphere. This is of course all true, historical happenings and the two girls were very real people.
The made up portion of the story, 2017, O!ivias beloved grandfather has died, leaving her a dusty old bookstore in Ireland. I wish someone would leave me a dusty old bookstore, anywhere. In the bookshop she finds the pages of the girls story, but how are they connected to her?
Beautiful, beautiful words, passages, fairies and magical happenings such as this
"I think the books come alive at night when the shop is closed and the lights are turned out, I think they open their covers and fan out their pages like wings and start to fly. Imagine it. Hundreds of books, flapping their pages, soaring and swooping because they're so alive with stories they can't possibly sit still on the shelf."
How can one not find that magical? Makes me smile. Plus, this is one of only a few with dual story lines where I enjoyed and liked them both. Took me back to a time of childhood, imagination and play, when time was meaningless. The authors note is so special, includes the facts and the photographs. Also, something that surprised but is a fantastic addition. Loved everything about this one.
ARC from edelweiss.
The made up portion of the story, 2017, O!ivias beloved grandfather has died, leaving her a dusty old bookstore in Ireland. I wish someone would leave me a dusty old bookstore, anywhere. In the bookshop she finds the pages of the girls story, but how are they connected to her?
Beautiful, beautiful words, passages, fairies and magical happenings such as this
"I think the books come alive at night when the shop is closed and the lights are turned out, I think they open their covers and fan out their pages like wings and start to fly. Imagine it. Hundreds of books, flapping their pages, soaring and swooping because they're so alive with stories they can't possibly sit still on the shelf."
How can one not find that magical? Makes me smile. Plus, this is one of only a few with dual story lines where I enjoyed and liked them both. Took me back to a time of childhood, imagination and play, when time was meaningless. The authors note is so special, includes the facts and the photographs. Also, something that surprised but is a fantastic addition. Loved everything about this one.
ARC from edelweiss.
November 30, 2017
The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor is a 2017 William Morrow Paperbacks publication.
Charming and magical-
This novel is based on the real events surrounding a group of photographs taken by sixteen year old Elsie Wright and her nine year old cousin, Frances Griffiths, in Cottingley, England in 1917.
The photographs allegedly captured images of fairies at the Cottingley Beck, a stream where the two girls often played. The photos garnered the attention of Sherlock Holmes author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who featured the story in ‘The Strand Magazine’, in 1920.
For years the public debated whether or not the photos were genuine, or if it was all a big hoax. This novel tells a fictional account of Elsie and Frances, and their adventures, alongside the current day story of Olivia Kavanagh, a woman who has come to set her grandparents affairs in order after the death of her grandfather.
Olivia is engaged, with a life back in London, but after inheriting her grandfather’s bookstore, she begins to reassess her life and decides to stay and manage the bookstore, unable to bring herself to sell it. But, along with the bookshop, Olivia’s grandfather left behind a manuscript written by Frances Griffiths, in which she details what really happened back in 1917, and puts to rest, the question regarding the one photo Frances insists is the real deal.
This is a delightful and fanciful accounting of Elsie and Frances' life story, and how they gave the gift of hope and a little bit of magic to people during the dark and bleak days of world war one. It is fascinating to me how people seized hold of the possibility that the fairies did indeed exist and could be captured on film. I think there is a bit of psychology behind that, with world war one raging in the background.
I also enjoyed the way the story unfolded bit by bit through the eyes of Olivia, who has found the courage to rediscover her true self and in so doing, finds that maybe, just maybe, believing in fairies and magic might not be a bad thing, after all.
For me, this story occasionally had a sad and bittersweet tone, but mostly it was sweet and whimsical, and I enjoyed immersing myself in the dual time lines, allowing myself to be swept away by the history and even felt a slight tingle of magic along the way, so much so, I might have become a bit of a believer, myself.
Although this novel is mostly conjecture, I think the author captured the atmosphere perfectly and built an interesting story around true events. I have since done a few Google searches on the Cottingley fairies. It’s an amazing story that captured the public’s imagination for decades. I think the time and place had a lot to do with why those pictures became such a phenomenon, but that the the myth persisted as long as it did is what makes the story so captivating.
Overall, I think what makes the story work, is the reminder that sometimes believing in something gives it a certain power, regardless of how fantastical, and sometimes, something fantastical can give people real hope, and that magic comes in many forms.
4 stars
Charming and magical-
This novel is based on the real events surrounding a group of photographs taken by sixteen year old Elsie Wright and her nine year old cousin, Frances Griffiths, in Cottingley, England in 1917.
The photographs allegedly captured images of fairies at the Cottingley Beck, a stream where the two girls often played. The photos garnered the attention of Sherlock Holmes author, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who featured the story in ‘The Strand Magazine’, in 1920.
For years the public debated whether or not the photos were genuine, or if it was all a big hoax. This novel tells a fictional account of Elsie and Frances, and their adventures, alongside the current day story of Olivia Kavanagh, a woman who has come to set her grandparents affairs in order after the death of her grandfather.
Olivia is engaged, with a life back in London, but after inheriting her grandfather’s bookstore, she begins to reassess her life and decides to stay and manage the bookstore, unable to bring herself to sell it. But, along with the bookshop, Olivia’s grandfather left behind a manuscript written by Frances Griffiths, in which she details what really happened back in 1917, and puts to rest, the question regarding the one photo Frances insists is the real deal.
This is a delightful and fanciful accounting of Elsie and Frances' life story, and how they gave the gift of hope and a little bit of magic to people during the dark and bleak days of world war one. It is fascinating to me how people seized hold of the possibility that the fairies did indeed exist and could be captured on film. I think there is a bit of psychology behind that, with world war one raging in the background.
I also enjoyed the way the story unfolded bit by bit through the eyes of Olivia, who has found the courage to rediscover her true self and in so doing, finds that maybe, just maybe, believing in fairies and magic might not be a bad thing, after all.
For me, this story occasionally had a sad and bittersweet tone, but mostly it was sweet and whimsical, and I enjoyed immersing myself in the dual time lines, allowing myself to be swept away by the history and even felt a slight tingle of magic along the way, so much so, I might have become a bit of a believer, myself.
Although this novel is mostly conjecture, I think the author captured the atmosphere perfectly and built an interesting story around true events. I have since done a few Google searches on the Cottingley fairies. It’s an amazing story that captured the public’s imagination for decades. I think the time and place had a lot to do with why those pictures became such a phenomenon, but that the the myth persisted as long as it did is what makes the story so captivating.
Overall, I think what makes the story work, is the reminder that sometimes believing in something gives it a certain power, regardless of how fantastical, and sometimes, something fantastical can give people real hope, and that magic comes in many forms.
4 stars
April 7, 2018
Click here to watch a video review of this book on my channel, From Beginning to Bookend.
Equal parts enchanting tale of childhood magic and bearable story of a woman wrestling with engagement to the wrong man. Though Gaynor's prose sways from maladroit to radiant and the plot is wholly predictable, The Cottingley Secret proves a pleasant read.
Equal parts enchanting tale of childhood magic and bearable story of a woman wrestling with engagement to the wrong man. Though Gaynor's prose sways from maladroit to radiant and the plot is wholly predictable, The Cottingley Secret proves a pleasant read.
December 17, 2023
*Seasonal Christmas Read 2023*
While this may not be a Christmas read, in the traditional sense, it reminded me of the sentiment of “Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus” (a favorite of mine) which reminds us all that the magic of Christmas is believing….
After all, “It is only by believing in magic, that we can ever hope to find it”.
Notes On A Fairytale, Cottingley, Yorkshire, April 1917
Two young cousins, Frances Griffiths and Elsie Wright claim to have photographed fairies at the bottom of their garden, near the waterfall in the Beck. Although Frances is convinced that the flashes of violet and emerald that she sees, are fairies, 🧚🏻 she hasn’t ever been able to capture them on film, so her cousin has helped her to fake the photos.
When one of the great novelists of the time, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who writes for “The Strand Magazine, becomes convinced that the photographs are authentic, the girls become a national sensation, much to their chagrin.
It seems that in times of War, people need something magical to believe in.
One hundred years later…
When Olivia Kavanagh inherits her late grandfather’s magical bookshop, “Something Old” she becomes fascinated by the story she finds written in an old manuscript she finds inside. It tells of two young girls who captured the fancy of the world when they photographed fairies, proving their existence.
But it is the discovery of an old photograph that leads her to realize how the lives of Frances and Elsie, intertwine with hers, connecting their past to her present.
The two equally absorbing narratives alternate in a delightful reimagining of a real historical event.
I don’t know why I allowed this to linger unread on my TBR shelf since it was published in 2017, but I am glad to have finally read it and become privy to “The Cottingley Secret”.
🧚🏻🧚🏻🧚🏻🧚🏻
While this may not be a Christmas read, in the traditional sense, it reminded me of the sentiment of “Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus” (a favorite of mine) which reminds us all that the magic of Christmas is believing….
After all, “It is only by believing in magic, that we can ever hope to find it”.
Notes On A Fairytale, Cottingley, Yorkshire, April 1917
Two young cousins, Frances Griffiths and Elsie Wright claim to have photographed fairies at the bottom of their garden, near the waterfall in the Beck. Although Frances is convinced that the flashes of violet and emerald that she sees, are fairies, 🧚🏻 she hasn’t ever been able to capture them on film, so her cousin has helped her to fake the photos.
When one of the great novelists of the time, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who writes for “The Strand Magazine, becomes convinced that the photographs are authentic, the girls become a national sensation, much to their chagrin.
It seems that in times of War, people need something magical to believe in.
One hundred years later…
When Olivia Kavanagh inherits her late grandfather’s magical bookshop, “Something Old” she becomes fascinated by the story she finds written in an old manuscript she finds inside. It tells of two young girls who captured the fancy of the world when they photographed fairies, proving their existence.
But it is the discovery of an old photograph that leads her to realize how the lives of Frances and Elsie, intertwine with hers, connecting their past to her present.
The two equally absorbing narratives alternate in a delightful reimagining of a real historical event.
I don’t know why I allowed this to linger unread on my TBR shelf since it was published in 2017, but I am glad to have finally read it and become privy to “The Cottingley Secret”.
🧚🏻🧚🏻🧚🏻🧚🏻
August 15, 2017
I read The Girl Who Came Home by Hazel Gaynor and deeply enjoyed it. Gaynor's writing was beautiful and uplifting, even in the midst of the Titanic tragedy. The Cottingley Secret, her fourth novel, is one I want to hug, and it's going to my favorites shelf. Told in dual storylines; one story is of Olivia in present-day Ireland who's inherited the most charming bookshop, and the other is of Frances, a young girl arriving in Yorkshire during the first World War. The book was inspired by the real Frances who was in a famous group of pictures with fairies and written about by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. These pictures created quite the frenzy during war time England and around the world, at a time when believing in magic may have had an important purpose.
Filled with love, fairy magic (I think fans who love the whimsy and ambience of Sarah Addison Allen and maybe even Alice Hoffman may enjoy this book), family secrets, beautiful descriptions of Yorkshire and Ireland, books, and the power of believing, I adored The Cottingley Secret. The p.s section including Author's Note, images of the famous photos, and an interview with Frances' daughter is not to be missed.
I connected to the writing and found myself highlighting several quotes, and here are a few:
"It breaks my heart to know that she will grow up and have to try to understand the world with all its complications and uncertainties. I hope she won't try to understand everything, and that some of the magic she knows now will stay with her."
"The friend and ally who took a photograph of me in a quiet sunlit moment in one of the most perfect places I have ever known, and captured forever a young girl with wonder in her eyes and the belief in magical things in her heart."
" ...as Nana always had said when she was winding a skein of wool, finding the end was the hard part. After that, all it took was patience, determination, and plenty of fresh tea in the pot."
"...but because with the world still at war, we needed to believe in something better. In that moment, and perhaps for much longer, it seemed to me that the possibility of believing in fairies was more important than one little girl telling the truth."
These two quotes were deeply personal to me, and I'm sure I will revisit them to reflect:
"Where once she had dreaded what lay ahead, Olivia now relished the prospect of filling the empty page. Hers was a narrative she would write in her own words in her own time. She would be the mapmaker, the storyteller, the dreamer of dreams."
"She had always been there, watching, waiting. To find her, all she'd had to do was believe in her."
I was ecstatic to win a copy of this book from Hazel Gaynor, the author, on Facebook. The above is my unsolicited and honest review.
Summer 2017 Read #23
Filled with love, fairy magic (I think fans who love the whimsy and ambience of Sarah Addison Allen and maybe even Alice Hoffman may enjoy this book), family secrets, beautiful descriptions of Yorkshire and Ireland, books, and the power of believing, I adored The Cottingley Secret. The p.s section including Author's Note, images of the famous photos, and an interview with Frances' daughter is not to be missed.
I connected to the writing and found myself highlighting several quotes, and here are a few:
"It breaks my heart to know that she will grow up and have to try to understand the world with all its complications and uncertainties. I hope she won't try to understand everything, and that some of the magic she knows now will stay with her."
"The friend and ally who took a photograph of me in a quiet sunlit moment in one of the most perfect places I have ever known, and captured forever a young girl with wonder in her eyes and the belief in magical things in her heart."
" ...as Nana always had said when she was winding a skein of wool, finding the end was the hard part. After that, all it took was patience, determination, and plenty of fresh tea in the pot."
"...but because with the world still at war, we needed to believe in something better. In that moment, and perhaps for much longer, it seemed to me that the possibility of believing in fairies was more important than one little girl telling the truth."
These two quotes were deeply personal to me, and I'm sure I will revisit them to reflect:
"Where once she had dreaded what lay ahead, Olivia now relished the prospect of filling the empty page. Hers was a narrative she would write in her own words in her own time. She would be the mapmaker, the storyteller, the dreamer of dreams."
"She had always been there, watching, waiting. To find her, all she'd had to do was believe in her."
I was ecstatic to win a copy of this book from Hazel Gaynor, the author, on Facebook. The above is my unsolicited and honest review.
Summer 2017 Read #23
November 17, 2017
4.5 Stars
”I know that the best time to see them is in that perfect hour before sunset when the sun sinks low on the horizon like a ripe peach and sends shafts of gold bursting through the trees. The ‘in between.’ I call it. No longer day, not yet night; some other place and time when magic hangs in the air and the light plays tricks on the eye. You might easily miss the flash of violet and emerald, but I—according to my teacher, Mrs. Hogan—am ‘a curiously observant child.’ I see their misty forms among the flowers and leaves. I know my patience will be rewarded if I watch and listen. If I believe. “
”And then…
The lightest ringing at my ears. The slightest movement of fern and leaf.
My heart flutters. My eyes widen with excitement.
A flash of vibrant emerald. Another of softest lavender-blue.
I lean forward. Draw in my breath. Don’t make a sound.
They are here.”
These stories of Olivia, in the present in Ireland, and Frances and Elsie, from the past beginning in 1917 in Cottingley, England, weave together slowly; in the way life usually unfolds. Day by day, bit by bit. Patience is required, but for those who truly believe, and seek it, the truth will gradually be revealed.
Olivia’s grandmother has been in a home since her Alzheimer’s progressed past the point where she could live at home with Olivia’s grandfather. When he was alive, her grandfather had been busy trying to hold his bookshop, “Something Old,” together, and he’s now passed and left his bookshop to Olivia. She’s also making sure to spend time with her grandmother, and to slowly get her grandparent’s home ready, all the boxes of things to go through and decide what to keep and what to give away. In the process she finds some things that lead her to a journey into her grandmother’s younger years, the stories of Frances and Elsie and the years of the photographs of the two of them and the fairies.
Intertwined with this, there is also the story of Frances and Elsie, from the first summer Frances and her mother came to live with her Aunt Polly and her cousin Elsie. The year her father went off to the war. That year, Frances saw the fairies for the first time, and wasn’t believed, so Elsie convinces her that they can prove it with photographs.
Arthur Conan Doyle, best known for his Sherlock Holmes books makes an appearance, taking an interest in these fairy photographs when word spreads far enough to reach him, and he eventually publishes “The Coming of the Fairies” , including photographs taken by young Frances and Elsie.
While much of this story revolves around the coming-of-age aspect of this story for young Frances and Elsie, and fairies, there is sufficient time spent in the present to ground this story so that it is not overly precious.
”It was the smaller, unexpected things that broke Olivia’s heart; an incomplete game of solitaire, Pappy’s pipe resting on the edge of the ashtray, a half-finished jigsaw of the Titanic. A quiet, simple life on pause.”
A child, Iris, the daughter of a local writer, enters the picture, and through her small, simple gestures, Olivia’s heart begins to mend. And through the magical draw of the bookshop, Olivia is able to help Iris open back up to a life without her mother. Because of Iris, Olivia opens up to a new life, and because of Olivia, Iris begins to open up to others.
”I tumbled her words around in my mind—‘If we can believe in fairies, perhaps we can believe in anything’—and the more I repeated them, the more I felt that perhaps believing in fairies was more important than seeing them. In belief, there is hope and wonder. In seeing, there is often question and doubt.”
At its heart, this is a feel good book, a fairy tale, of sorts, but there is more. This is a story of Alzheimer’s, of life, and of death, of love lost and love found, the heartbreak of a parent whose child is missing; a story of discovery, of fairies and those who believe, and those who don’t; a story of believing in yourself.
Many thanks, once again, to the Public Library system for the loan of this book!
December 20, 2017
Rating 4.5
What a fun, whimsical, magical story. Initially, the name drew me in, then the cover, and when I saw in the blurb it said 'fairies' I was hopelessly hooked. I bugged my library to get a copy and they got both print and audio....I naturally selected the audio and loved every minute of it. I didn't want this one end. One line in the book that I kept coming back to....Those who don't believe in magic will never find it. And that is key to this wonderful book. And I for one, believe and love to read about magic.
The Cottingley Secret is a story that rotates between two timelines, the early 1900's and present day. In present day, Olivia is lost, getting ready to marry a man she really doesn't love. Her grandfather has just died and gave to her his bookstore, Something Old. The other story, in the early 1900's in Cottingley, Yorkshire, you learn of two young girls, who photographed fairies and ultimately captivated the world. In present day, Olivia finds a book in the bookstore telling the story of these two young girls and is enthralled and entwined in this story. I thoroughly enjoyed both of these stories and each had warmed my heart. This historical fiction is another one of those stories where a small piece of history is plucked and a story is weaved around it. The story of the girls, two cousins, who photographed the fairies in their garden is real. The story became so widespread and popular that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was fascinated by it and used the photos and the story in an article that he was writing about fairies. Everyone knew the story and believed in the fairies. You see, it was a time of war, where families would constantly get messages that a son was lost in the war until there were no more sons left. So people wanted, and needed, to believe in something.
I am so glad that I finally read this one...eh, listened to it. The audio was fabulous. I loved every minute of it. And now, I've just grabbed this authors latest book (Thanks Jennifer for the tip!). A feel-good story that brings hope, fun, and magic to the reader. That is....if you believe in magic.
What a fun, whimsical, magical story. Initially, the name drew me in, then the cover, and when I saw in the blurb it said 'fairies' I was hopelessly hooked. I bugged my library to get a copy and they got both print and audio....I naturally selected the audio and loved every minute of it. I didn't want this one end. One line in the book that I kept coming back to....Those who don't believe in magic will never find it. And that is key to this wonderful book. And I for one, believe and love to read about magic.
The Cottingley Secret is a story that rotates between two timelines, the early 1900's and present day. In present day, Olivia is lost, getting ready to marry a man she really doesn't love. Her grandfather has just died and gave to her his bookstore, Something Old. The other story, in the early 1900's in Cottingley, Yorkshire, you learn of two young girls, who photographed fairies and ultimately captivated the world. In present day, Olivia finds a book in the bookstore telling the story of these two young girls and is enthralled and entwined in this story. I thoroughly enjoyed both of these stories and each had warmed my heart. This historical fiction is another one of those stories where a small piece of history is plucked and a story is weaved around it. The story of the girls, two cousins, who photographed the fairies in their garden is real. The story became so widespread and popular that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was fascinated by it and used the photos and the story in an article that he was writing about fairies. Everyone knew the story and believed in the fairies. You see, it was a time of war, where families would constantly get messages that a son was lost in the war until there were no more sons left. So people wanted, and needed, to believe in something.
I am so glad that I finally read this one...eh, listened to it. The audio was fabulous. I loved every minute of it. And now, I've just grabbed this authors latest book (Thanks Jennifer for the tip!). A feel-good story that brings hope, fun, and magic to the reader. That is....if you believe in magic.
August 4, 2022
I chose this book purely based on its cover. The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor looked gorgeous, and after seeing it all over Goodreads and thinking about the Cotswolds, I fell in love. Then I learned it doesn't take place in England, but in Ireland, as well as that it's based on a true story. Wow! Knock me over with a feather... all that said, it was a good book and I enjoyed it very much. I'd give it somewhere between a 3.5 and 4 stars rounded up.
Two young girls take pictures of faeries in Ireland during World War 1. One of them is a transplant from South Africa returning because her father must fight in the war. She bonds with her cousin, they become somewhat famous for their pictures as everyone thinks it's real. Was it? In current day, a somewhat distant relative / friend (I'm being vague to not give it away) returns to the village to take care of her aging grandmother after her grandfather passes away. She's contemplating breaking off an engagement and starting life anew. The stories intertwine and we learn what really happened with the photo of the faeries.
If this weren't based on a true story, I'd have said the plot was too simple. Knowing it comes from a real-life experience, it makes the book a bit better. The author created a beautiful story. The characters felt real. I enjoyed the current story more than the historical one, tho. I felt the book had some literary merit, but at times, it was repetitive and listless... yet I also found it enchanting and vivid in many other places. I think it's meant to be that way if you're not aware of or fully caught up in the true story.
Gaynor's writing is quite strong and made me keep reading. I will definitely sample more of her work in the future.
Two young girls take pictures of faeries in Ireland during World War 1. One of them is a transplant from South Africa returning because her father must fight in the war. She bonds with her cousin, they become somewhat famous for their pictures as everyone thinks it's real. Was it? In current day, a somewhat distant relative / friend (I'm being vague to not give it away) returns to the village to take care of her aging grandmother after her grandfather passes away. She's contemplating breaking off an engagement and starting life anew. The stories intertwine and we learn what really happened with the photo of the faeries.
If this weren't based on a true story, I'd have said the plot was too simple. Knowing it comes from a real-life experience, it makes the book a bit better. The author created a beautiful story. The characters felt real. I enjoyed the current story more than the historical one, tho. I felt the book had some literary merit, but at times, it was repetitive and listless... yet I also found it enchanting and vivid in many other places. I think it's meant to be that way if you're not aware of or fully caught up in the true story.
Gaynor's writing is quite strong and made me keep reading. I will definitely sample more of her work in the future.
October 1, 2017
This is a rather clever fictional approach to the true story of the Cottingley fairies. Back in 1917 when photography was still fairly basic and people were less cynical than today, two young girls fooled the world with photos of paper fairies posed at the bottom of their garden. This is the true part of the story to which Hazel Gaynor has added some fictional family members to link events to Olivia who lives in the current day.
Both stories, that of the young girls and their fairies and of Olivia and her bookshop, are charming and equally interesting. The settings are beautifully described and of course I loved the bit about Leeds Library since I used to work there many years ago!
I appreciated the way the author handled the story of the fairies. It is generally agreed today that it was a hoax and indeed the pictures are actually quite unrealistic, but it was nice that she wrote it as though there was no intent to deceive - at least not to deceive the general public! So a small trick on the family turned into larger things. And of course if you do believe in fairies Ms Gaynor leaves the possibility open:)
Both stories, that of the young girls and their fairies and of Olivia and her bookshop, are charming and equally interesting. The settings are beautifully described and of course I loved the bit about Leeds Library since I used to work there many years ago!
I appreciated the way the author handled the story of the fairies. It is generally agreed today that it was a hoax and indeed the pictures are actually quite unrealistic, but it was nice that she wrote it as though there was no intent to deceive - at least not to deceive the general public! So a small trick on the family turned into larger things. And of course if you do believe in fairies Ms Gaynor leaves the possibility open:)
August 1, 2017
Can Olivia have some connection to Elsie and Frances who lived 100 years ago? Can Olivia find it?
Is the connection somewhere in the pages of the rare books in the bookshop, SOMETHING OLD, that Olivia's grandfather left her? Is it in the story she finds that leads her to believe in herself like Elsie and Frances believed in fairies?
Olivia lives in present day and finds a manuscript in her grandfather's things that refers to fairies. As she reads the manuscript and deals with her unhappy life at this time, she believes her grandmother knew Frances.
Olivia is excited that she inherited the bookshop, but doesn't know what to do with it. What decision will she make about the bookshop and her life? Will she decide to move to Ireland and run the bookshop and most importantly follow what will make her happy or marry the man that she realizes isn't the man she should marry?
We move to 1917 and visit with Elsie and Frances who are cousins and live under the same roof since Frances moved there from South Africa while her father was called to serve in the war.
Frances is a precocious child and believes she sees fairies at the beck, but no one believes her . She and Elsie get together to prove the fairies are really there, and their story becomes a sensation.
THE COTTINGLEY SECRET took a few pages for me to connect, but once I got hooked and also realized that this fairy story was famous, I couldn't stop reading.
I loved how the book went back and forth from 1917 to present day, and I truly enjoyed the secrets and connections between the characters from both time periods as they were revealed.
Who doesn't love a book that has a bookshop in it? And who doesn't love an old bookshop with secrets and memories that might help you make personal decisions and find connections?
Hazel Gaynor's books are always magical whether there is magic in them or not.
And…her books are always filled with love.
ENJOY!! 5/5
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.
May 25, 2018
Do little girls still believe in magic at all? After reading The Cottingley Secret, this not-so-young-girl believed!
In 1917, the Big War had just broken out when Frances Griffiths’ father joined up to “do his part.” Frances and her mother were whisked off to England to stay with relatives, including her cousin, Elsie. Obviously, Frances was young, bored, worried and sad and she often spent time alone in the beck, a clearing by the pond. It is there that she first saw the faeries. Of course, no one believed her at first, not even Elsie, perhaps not even you. But after a time she decided she should photograph these faeries to convince her family that they were, in fact, real. The rest, as they say, is history. The very real Sir Arthur Conan Doyle saw the photographs, examined them thoroughly and declared them “authentically true.” Yes, he really did.
In an alternate timeline set in the present, the reader is told of Olivia who has inherited her grandfather’s bookstore and with it a manuscript entitled, “Notes on a Fairy Tale.” Inside is the very story of Frances, Elsie, the faeries and the photographs.
Told from alternating points of view, Hazel Gaynor, has spun her fairy tale of beauty, magic and love that spans throughout time for over a century. While the narrative goes from Frances to Olivia and back, the reader is never lost or distracted. In fact, with snippets of factual journal entries, there is just enough truth in this piece of historical fiction to suspend belief and allow the reader to enter a land of magic where imagination reigns and innocence still exists. At the end of the story, the reader, will be amazed to find the actual photos of the faeries that Conan-Doyle inspected. Yes, they are real. The photographs. You will have to decide for yourself if you believe Frances’ story. I know that I do. Very much.
There are few books that I recommend without hesitation to all; this book is one of them. I had not read other reviews and had not seen spoilers and I have not given you any here. This is a tale that should be enjoyed without any preconceived notions of good or bad, reality or fiction… just read and enjoy. I know you will.
In 1917, the Big War had just broken out when Frances Griffiths’ father joined up to “do his part.” Frances and her mother were whisked off to England to stay with relatives, including her cousin, Elsie. Obviously, Frances was young, bored, worried and sad and she often spent time alone in the beck, a clearing by the pond. It is there that she first saw the faeries. Of course, no one believed her at first, not even Elsie, perhaps not even you. But after a time she decided she should photograph these faeries to convince her family that they were, in fact, real. The rest, as they say, is history. The very real Sir Arthur Conan Doyle saw the photographs, examined them thoroughly and declared them “authentically true.” Yes, he really did.
In an alternate timeline set in the present, the reader is told of Olivia who has inherited her grandfather’s bookstore and with it a manuscript entitled, “Notes on a Fairy Tale.” Inside is the very story of Frances, Elsie, the faeries and the photographs.
Told from alternating points of view, Hazel Gaynor, has spun her fairy tale of beauty, magic and love that spans throughout time for over a century. While the narrative goes from Frances to Olivia and back, the reader is never lost or distracted. In fact, with snippets of factual journal entries, there is just enough truth in this piece of historical fiction to suspend belief and allow the reader to enter a land of magic where imagination reigns and innocence still exists. At the end of the story, the reader, will be amazed to find the actual photos of the faeries that Conan-Doyle inspected. Yes, they are real. The photographs. You will have to decide for yourself if you believe Frances’ story. I know that I do. Very much.
There are few books that I recommend without hesitation to all; this book is one of them. I had not read other reviews and had not seen spoilers and I have not given you any here. This is a tale that should be enjoyed without any preconceived notions of good or bad, reality or fiction… just read and enjoy. I know you will.
January 11, 2019
I simply adored this book and fell in love with it from the moment I read the beautifully written prologue. I admit to liking a bit of magic sometimes, who doesn't need some in their life? This book is so evocative of childhood and takes me back to hunting for fairies at the bottom of my Grans garden and making fairy houses out of twigs.
I've always been aware of the Cottingley photographs, so was intrigued as to how the author would approach this.
The storyline interweaves between two timelines, both of which are clearly indicated. The story takes off in August 1917 in Cottingley, Yorkshire and alternates between there and modern day Ireland. It's beautifully written with descriptive and whimsical writing.
It's a perfect read for lovers of books and bookshops, with Olivia in the present day timeline inheriting a bookshop from her grandfather. The descriptions are wonderful and vivid, so much so you can almost smell the books on the shelves. The characters are easily relatable and you feel pulled easily into their worlds.
Hazel Gaynor is one of those authors that can make characters jump off the page at you. I loved her style of writing; descriptive, full, rich and full of wonder and surprises, although it isn't particularly fast paced. It's definitely a book to savour and just perfect for reading in the shade of some trees on a balmy summers day - or curled up under a blanket pretending it's summer! It's not often I read a book twice anymore, with so much to get through, but this is most definitely a book I will make sure I make time to return to again and again.
Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.
I've always been aware of the Cottingley photographs, so was intrigued as to how the author would approach this.
The storyline interweaves between two timelines, both of which are clearly indicated. The story takes off in August 1917 in Cottingley, Yorkshire and alternates between there and modern day Ireland. It's beautifully written with descriptive and whimsical writing.
It's a perfect read for lovers of books and bookshops, with Olivia in the present day timeline inheriting a bookshop from her grandfather. The descriptions are wonderful and vivid, so much so you can almost smell the books on the shelves. The characters are easily relatable and you feel pulled easily into their worlds.
Hazel Gaynor is one of those authors that can make characters jump off the page at you. I loved her style of writing; descriptive, full, rich and full of wonder and surprises, although it isn't particularly fast paced. It's definitely a book to savour and just perfect for reading in the shade of some trees on a balmy summers day - or curled up under a blanket pretending it's summer! It's not often I read a book twice anymore, with so much to get through, but this is most definitely a book I will make sure I make time to return to again and again.
Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest and unbiased review.
November 17, 2017
4 stars. Two hankies and one pot of Earl Grey tea.
Olivia Kavanagh, now living in London, has gone home to Ireland. Her grandfather has passed away and her grandmother is in a nursing home, suffering from Alzheimer's disease. As she clears out her grandparent's cottage and tidies up their antiquarian book shop, she uncovers a mystery going back to World War I England. How is her family connected to the famous Cottingley fairies? What secrets are revealed in an old manuscript? How do the lessons of the past affect the decisions Olivia must make about her future?
This is a lovely book, permeated with loss and a strong sense of nostalgia for more innocent times in which it was possible to believe in fairies. The mystery is a dark shadow hanging over the story, whispering of pain and sorrow. In spite of this, The Cottingley Secret is a story about hope and the seemingly ridiculous idea that in the midst of all the grief this world has to offer, is the promise of magic. Do you believe in fairies? I want to, very much.
Olivia Kavanagh, now living in London, has gone home to Ireland. Her grandfather has passed away and her grandmother is in a nursing home, suffering from Alzheimer's disease. As she clears out her grandparent's cottage and tidies up their antiquarian book shop, she uncovers a mystery going back to World War I England. How is her family connected to the famous Cottingley fairies? What secrets are revealed in an old manuscript? How do the lessons of the past affect the decisions Olivia must make about her future?
This is a lovely book, permeated with loss and a strong sense of nostalgia for more innocent times in which it was possible to believe in fairies. The mystery is a dark shadow hanging over the story, whispering of pain and sorrow. In spite of this, The Cottingley Secret is a story about hope and the seemingly ridiculous idea that in the midst of all the grief this world has to offer, is the promise of magic. Do you believe in fairies? I want to, very much.
August 6, 2017
The Cottingley Secret cements Hazel Gaynor’s position as one of my favorite authors. I loved The Girl Who Came Home and A Memory of Violets, and The Cottingley Secret is equally outstanding. For years I have been fascinated with the English girls, Elise Wright and Frances Griffiths, who in 1917 claimed they photographed fairies in their backyard and the resulting notoriety they achieved. While I was familiar with the basic facts of the event, Gaynor recreates their story and fills in the details including that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle believed the photographs were authentic and helped spread their tale to the rest of England.
Gaynor tells the tale in a dual timeline format which works very well for The Cottingley Secret. Olivia lives in the present day and, after the recent loss of her grandfather, returns to Ireland to manage the book shop she inherited, called Something Old, and attempt to straighten out her own life. She finds a manuscript written by Frances Griffiths and slowly becomes fascinated with the girls’ fairy tale (see my pun there?). The second story begins in 1917 when Frances and her mother come to stay with Elsie and her family during the Great War. The girls form a close bond and enjoy spending time down at the beck where Frances believes she sees fairies. She eventually confides in Elsie who concocts the idea that the girls should photograph the fairies, and the tale takes off from there – I cannot say anymore because I do not want to spoil this beautiful story. The two storylines eventually intertwine in a highly satisfying manner. I was amazed at the depth of the tale and fascinated that Gaynor was able to meet and speak at length with Frances’ daughter. I loved immersing myself in this enchanting and intriguing tale and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a feel good and magical book. I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thoughts’ Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.
Gaynor tells the tale in a dual timeline format which works very well for The Cottingley Secret. Olivia lives in the present day and, after the recent loss of her grandfather, returns to Ireland to manage the book shop she inherited, called Something Old, and attempt to straighten out her own life. She finds a manuscript written by Frances Griffiths and slowly becomes fascinated with the girls’ fairy tale (see my pun there?). The second story begins in 1917 when Frances and her mother come to stay with Elsie and her family during the Great War. The girls form a close bond and enjoy spending time down at the beck where Frances believes she sees fairies. She eventually confides in Elsie who concocts the idea that the girls should photograph the fairies, and the tale takes off from there – I cannot say anymore because I do not want to spoil this beautiful story. The two storylines eventually intertwine in a highly satisfying manner. I was amazed at the depth of the tale and fascinated that Gaynor was able to meet and speak at length with Frances’ daughter. I loved immersing myself in this enchanting and intriguing tale and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a feel good and magical book. I received an advance review copy of this book from the Great Thoughts’ Ninja Review Team. All opinions are my own.
December 4, 2017
Two young girls from Cottingley, Yorkshire, convince the world that they have done the impossible and photographed fairies in their garden. Their parents are astonished when one of the great novelists of the time, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is convinced of the photographs authenticity. The girls become a national sensation. The girls hide their secret for decades. One hundred years later, when Olivia Kavanagh finds an old manuscript in her late grandfathers bookshop, she becomes fascinated by the story of the two girls who mystified the world.
This is a truly magical story. This book had me hooked from the beginning. It is beautifully written. It's basically a story within a story. The descriptions of the era were almost perfection itself. Set around England and Ireland. I so recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, HarperFiction and the author Hazel Gaynor for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a truly magical story. This book had me hooked from the beginning. It is beautifully written. It's basically a story within a story. The descriptions of the era were almost perfection itself. Set around England and Ireland. I so recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Harper Collins UK, HarperFiction and the author Hazel Gaynor for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 3, 2022
Ireland. Present day. When Olivia inherits her grandfather’s bookshop, she comes across a manuscript titled Notes on a Fairy Tale, set in 1917 Cottingley. She also discovers an old photograph that leads her to a connection, blending past with present.
The first lines got me interested in Olivia’s story, but once she started debating if she should continue with the wedding preparations as she wasn’t sure about the man she was about to marry, I just wanted to pull my hair out. Also, the connecting story didn’t hold my interest. I wished this was just a one timeline story about the girls who discovered fairies without trying to create some intriguing plot which sounds repetitive; we’ve all read it before.
1917, when the Great War continues and with her father at war, Frances and her mother move from South Africa to England, where her mother is from. In Cottingley, Frances is drawn to a nearby beck, where she discovers fairies. She keeps it to herself until someone tells her the local folklore of the pixies and fairies and such living in the beck. Then, she reveals her secret, which leads to other events, which are predictable after reading the blurb.
I enjoyed the story of Frances and her cousin and was interested in it, but at some point it became pretty predictable.
P.S. Highly recommend A Memory of Violets by this author.
The first lines got me interested in Olivia’s story, but once she started debating if she should continue with the wedding preparations as she wasn’t sure about the man she was about to marry, I just wanted to pull my hair out. Also, the connecting story didn’t hold my interest. I wished this was just a one timeline story about the girls who discovered fairies without trying to create some intriguing plot which sounds repetitive; we’ve all read it before.
1917, when the Great War continues and with her father at war, Frances and her mother move from South Africa to England, where her mother is from. In Cottingley, Frances is drawn to a nearby beck, where she discovers fairies. She keeps it to herself until someone tells her the local folklore of the pixies and fairies and such living in the beck. Then, she reveals her secret, which leads to other events, which are predictable after reading the blurb.
I enjoyed the story of Frances and her cousin and was interested in it, but at some point it became pretty predictable.
P.S. Highly recommend A Memory of Violets by this author.
September 5, 2017
My thanks to my Goodreads friends Melissa and Rory, whose reviews pointed me towards this lovely book.
It was a nearly perfect book for me—first, there is the question of what Frances has actually seen. In her mind, she has seen fairies and I found myself wanting so much to believe her! Having spent many long hours as a child playing outdoors, watching all that went on around me, I always longed for a special experience such as hers.
Secondly, there is the link to the real world—Frances and Elsie were real girls who did create fairy photographs that fooled many people, including Arthur Conan Doyle! And I can’t say I blame them—after all, I just admitted above how much I wanted to believe in Frances’ fairies. At the end of WWI, many people were looking for evidence of life after death and having lost dear folk myself, I can sympathize with that wish.
Thirdly, there is a present day story which takes place around the story of Frances and Elsie. Olivia Kavanagh is dealing with the grief of losing a beloved grandparent (who has stood in a parental role to her) and dealing with his store and his belongings. Her grandmother has Alzheimer’s and doesn’t always know Olivia when she visits. I identified strongly with her grief and her desire to escape from her London life while she sorted things out. I’ve sorted out the contents of our farm house and know exactly how difficult such an endeavour can be.
Lastly, I loved the unresolved ending. Frustrating to some, to me they reflect reality. Until we also pass on, we only have the ending until now. There is more to come tomorrow.
An enchanting, beautiful book which I am ever so glad that I found.
It was a nearly perfect book for me—first, there is the question of what Frances has actually seen. In her mind, she has seen fairies and I found myself wanting so much to believe her! Having spent many long hours as a child playing outdoors, watching all that went on around me, I always longed for a special experience such as hers.
Secondly, there is the link to the real world—Frances and Elsie were real girls who did create fairy photographs that fooled many people, including Arthur Conan Doyle! And I can’t say I blame them—after all, I just admitted above how much I wanted to believe in Frances’ fairies. At the end of WWI, many people were looking for evidence of life after death and having lost dear folk myself, I can sympathize with that wish.
Thirdly, there is a present day story which takes place around the story of Frances and Elsie. Olivia Kavanagh is dealing with the grief of losing a beloved grandparent (who has stood in a parental role to her) and dealing with his store and his belongings. Her grandmother has Alzheimer’s and doesn’t always know Olivia when she visits. I identified strongly with her grief and her desire to escape from her London life while she sorted things out. I’ve sorted out the contents of our farm house and know exactly how difficult such an endeavour can be.
Lastly, I loved the unresolved ending. Frustrating to some, to me they reflect reality. Until we also pass on, we only have the ending until now. There is more to come tomorrow.
An enchanting, beautiful book which I am ever so glad that I found.
April 26, 2017
With lyrical prose, Gaynor captures the vivid imagination of two young girls, their journey through a world of lush forest and glittering streams and the magic that lies therein--an escape from the difficult realities of family life and WWI era England. I was utterly transported to the enchanting countryside of 1917 Yorkshire, and then again to Olivia's world in a quaint village in contemporary Ireland. In The Cottingley Secret, Gaynor asks us the question we all have buried somewhere in our hearts-- is believing in ourselves, perhaps, the most important magic of all?
January 29, 2018
THE COTTINGLEY SECRET is the first book I have read by Hazel Gaynor. I was intrigued by the idea of the book, about the cousins that took the Cottingley photographs of fairies (you can google Cottingley fairies to see the photographs yourself, they are added at the end of the book). Personally, from a modern perspective, I have a hard time to see how anyone can take them for real. But, it was another time back then.
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
August 31, 2023
Usually I enjoy Hazel Gaynor’s books. This one I could not connect with. It started out okay, then went weird.
March 27, 2018
In 1917, during the height of World War I, two young girls took a photograph of what they claimed were fairies dancing along a beck (stream) in England. This amazing photograph had come about as a way to prove to their parents that their claims were true of them playing with fairies, and hence the wet and soiled dresses. Though Uncle Arthur doubted the authenticity, his wife believed the girls' claims, as did most of the adults who saw the photograph. Had this event stayed within the confines of their immediate family, the photograph and event would have faded into obscurity. But it was not to be, for this was a time of great strides in the various spiritualist movements, as well as the peoples' grief for the lost generations that were falling on the fields of battle of The Great War. Once word got out, and the photograph published, peoples' believe in fairies spread like wildfire. These events actually happened.
What the author did was weave a tale within this actual event, where a young woman who inherits an old bookshop learns not only about what happened, but that she is actually a descendent of those who's lives were touched by the event. To say any more is to ruin it for someone who wishes to read this book for themselves.
As I started reading this, while sitting in front of the fire amid a snowstorm, I found myself drawn into the story. I enjoyed the setting, the adventure, the thought of real fairies being captured on glass plate (film), and even the author's mastery of the written word to entertain me. I was truly mesmerized for the first one hundred and fifty pages or so. But then, I became bored. I don't blame the author, for she tried to make it interesting as the real story did not end until the late 1980's right before the death of the two girls.
There are a couple of things that I would like to talk about while I am at it. First of all, is the amazing photograph itself. You have a nine year old and a sixteen year old who borrow the sixteen year old's father's new camera. Now remember that this is 1917, and the girl has one chance to set the proper light and shutter speed, to expose the glass plate, so she can take it back to her father to use it to make a negative, and then a photo itself in his basement darkroom under the stairs. And when you see the clarity of the quality photo, well, it just amazes me! Being old fashioned, I use to insist on taking photos with those disposable cameras, and then taking them in to get developed on the computerized printer at Walgreens, until I got sick and tired of the idiots ruining my negatives and prints! My dear old Dad was a real photographer and I wish I had taken him up on his offer to teach me the art. But that is another story. Anyway, so now I take photos with a modern camera that uses a memory card instead of film, and even though it can do a lot of tricks, I still manage to get out of focus shots! ARG!!!
Now if the photo was not real, and the girls used drawings of fairies, then I have to take my hat off to them for their fantastic artwork. The funny thing was, the experts of the day all claimed the photos to be of genuine fairies. Those people who every now and then claim that the fuzzy, out of focus picture they have is of Big Foot have a lot to learn from those girls.
The other thing I will say, without giving anything else away, is that the one girl claimed to her dying day that she actually saw fairies that fateful day at the beck.
Would I recommend I? Sure, but I probably would not read it again. Well, maybe the first one hundred and fifty pages.
What the author did was weave a tale within this actual event, where a young woman who inherits an old bookshop learns not only about what happened, but that she is actually a descendent of those who's lives were touched by the event. To say any more is to ruin it for someone who wishes to read this book for themselves.
As I started reading this, while sitting in front of the fire amid a snowstorm, I found myself drawn into the story. I enjoyed the setting, the adventure, the thought of real fairies being captured on glass plate (film), and even the author's mastery of the written word to entertain me. I was truly mesmerized for the first one hundred and fifty pages or so. But then, I became bored. I don't blame the author, for she tried to make it interesting as the real story did not end until the late 1980's right before the death of the two girls.
There are a couple of things that I would like to talk about while I am at it. First of all, is the amazing photograph itself. You have a nine year old and a sixteen year old who borrow the sixteen year old's father's new camera. Now remember that this is 1917, and the girl has one chance to set the proper light and shutter speed, to expose the glass plate, so she can take it back to her father to use it to make a negative, and then a photo itself in his basement darkroom under the stairs. And when you see the clarity of the quality photo, well, it just amazes me! Being old fashioned, I use to insist on taking photos with those disposable cameras, and then taking them in to get developed on the computerized printer at Walgreens, until I got sick and tired of the idiots ruining my negatives and prints! My dear old Dad was a real photographer and I wish I had taken him up on his offer to teach me the art. But that is another story. Anyway, so now I take photos with a modern camera that uses a memory card instead of film, and even though it can do a lot of tricks, I still manage to get out of focus shots! ARG!!!
Now if the photo was not real, and the girls used drawings of fairies, then I have to take my hat off to them for their fantastic artwork. The funny thing was, the experts of the day all claimed the photos to be of genuine fairies. Those people who every now and then claim that the fuzzy, out of focus picture they have is of Big Foot have a lot to learn from those girls.
The other thing I will say, without giving anything else away, is that the one girl claimed to her dying day that she actually saw fairies that fateful day at the beck.
Would I recommend I? Sure, but I probably would not read it again. Well, maybe the first one hundred and fifty pages.
November 1, 2017
The Cottingley Secret has a little bit of everything: magic, loss, deceit, heartache and love! The characters are well drawn and both timelines intertwine nicely. One timeline is based on true events of two young girls that photographed fairies in Yorkshire. I knew nothing of The Cottingley fairies and it is quit a captivating story. A delightful warmhearted story I highly recommend if you like historical fiction with dual narratives.
October 17, 2018
3.5 stars
I'll admit to a fair degree of procrastination before starting to read The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor. I wasn't exactly enchanted by the idea of a book about fairies at the bottom of the garden. Yet as it turned out, enchanted is exactly what I was once I started reading. Though there was a magical element it was woven into the story so naturally I never felt forced to suspend disbelief. And, the icing on the cake was that this story was centred around some real events and controversial photographs which were widely known in the 1920's as the Cottingley fairy photographs.
In the present Olivia (Liv) Kavanagh has returned to Ireland to deal with the estate of her beloved Pappy. She has inherited Something Old, her Pappy's charming old bookstore. This is the place she spent most of her childhood and she has treasured memories of this place and the books. In one of the drawers in the shop Liv finds an unpublished manuscript together with a photo of a young girl surrounded by fairies. Intrigued she settles in to read the manuscript which tells the story of Frances Griffiths. Frances is one of the two girls in the Cottingley fairy photo's. Liv became engrossed in the story, finding a connection between Frances and her own great grandmother. These photos were never intended to be shared but somehow they were and they became the subject of much conjecture and debate. There were those who believed the fairy photos were fakes, others who genuinely believed they were real and others who simply wanted to believe. As Frances' teacher said, "Sometimes all we need is something to believe in, something to give us hope and to remind us how remarkable the world can be, even in the middle of a war."
This was a lovely story handled cleverly so that the transition from the here and now to the early twentieth century was always seamless. Whilst the existence or otherwise of fairies - though central to the story - was the main theme, the book beautifully revealed messages of hope in the face of loss, of reconstructing lives and relationships, it placed an emphasis on the relationship between parents and children of all ages and generations and through Liv it showed the value of gaining an understanding of your own family history.
I'll admit to a fair degree of procrastination before starting to read The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor. I wasn't exactly enchanted by the idea of a book about fairies at the bottom of the garden. Yet as it turned out, enchanted is exactly what I was once I started reading. Though there was a magical element it was woven into the story so naturally I never felt forced to suspend disbelief. And, the icing on the cake was that this story was centred around some real events and controversial photographs which were widely known in the 1920's as the Cottingley fairy photographs.
In the present Olivia (Liv) Kavanagh has returned to Ireland to deal with the estate of her beloved Pappy. She has inherited Something Old, her Pappy's charming old bookstore. This is the place she spent most of her childhood and she has treasured memories of this place and the books. In one of the drawers in the shop Liv finds an unpublished manuscript together with a photo of a young girl surrounded by fairies. Intrigued she settles in to read the manuscript which tells the story of Frances Griffiths. Frances is one of the two girls in the Cottingley fairy photo's. Liv became engrossed in the story, finding a connection between Frances and her own great grandmother. These photos were never intended to be shared but somehow they were and they became the subject of much conjecture and debate. There were those who believed the fairy photos were fakes, others who genuinely believed they were real and others who simply wanted to believe. As Frances' teacher said, "Sometimes all we need is something to believe in, something to give us hope and to remind us how remarkable the world can be, even in the middle of a war."
This was a lovely story handled cleverly so that the transition from the here and now to the early twentieth century was always seamless. Whilst the existence or otherwise of fairies - though central to the story - was the main theme, the book beautifully revealed messages of hope in the face of loss, of reconstructing lives and relationships, it placed an emphasis on the relationship between parents and children of all ages and generations and through Liv it showed the value of gaining an understanding of your own family history.
May 15, 2018
There is nothing better than finishing a book with a smile on my face, filled with the warmth and heart of a wonderful story. The Cottingley Secret is a beautifully written book, filled with captivating images and ideas. This is a story that you can totally immerse yourself in, a fairy tale of sorts, where you can shake off the pressures of the day and escape in a world of magic. This book is enchanting, filled with love, and truly delightful.
September 12, 2017
When you first glimpse the cover of this book, it doesn’t shout ‘magical realism’. It shouts ‘family saga’. At least to me it does.
Admittedly, I skimmed the review pitch very lightly and didn’t really pay close attention to it because like it or not, I knew I would review this one based on the cover and title.
It just sounded like a title that said ‘family saga’ in the vein of Kate Morton for some reason. Then you add in that cover and there you have it, I was convinced at face value that this was a family saga (something that I love).
So imagine my surprise when there were fairies and magic in this book.
As I mentioned, I thought this was going to be something completely different. However had I read the review pitch in it’s entirety, I probably would have still reviewed it because I like magical realism novels plus you add in my favorite time period (Edwardian era), and it would have been up for review on my calendar one way or the other–I just happened to think it was something else entirely.
This book was a treat though. She has a beautiful story telling style which captivated me almost immediately. I haven’t read anything by her before so this was a completely new author to me. I loved that the author took some historic, real events and incorporated them into a story with magical elements. That’s one of the things that I love about magical realism books–the gentle and subtle use of magic. It wasn’t over done in any way.
Reading this book was a complete surprise to me, it wasn’t what I expected but the story and characters drew me in. I was enchanted by tone of the over all novel. It was at times sad but yet in a strange way uplifting. It made me feel good but yet tugged at the heart strings. I love books like that.
This was an easy 5 star review for me. I loved it and read it in only a matter of days. It was a pleasant surprise in the closing days of my summer reading. Put on a pot of tea and get ready to get lost and enjoy this one! Truly a book you can lose yourself in!
See my full review here
Admittedly, I skimmed the review pitch very lightly and didn’t really pay close attention to it because like it or not, I knew I would review this one based on the cover and title.
It just sounded like a title that said ‘family saga’ in the vein of Kate Morton for some reason. Then you add in that cover and there you have it, I was convinced at face value that this was a family saga (something that I love).
So imagine my surprise when there were fairies and magic in this book.
As I mentioned, I thought this was going to be something completely different. However had I read the review pitch in it’s entirety, I probably would have still reviewed it because I like magical realism novels plus you add in my favorite time period (Edwardian era), and it would have been up for review on my calendar one way or the other–I just happened to think it was something else entirely.
This book was a treat though. She has a beautiful story telling style which captivated me almost immediately. I haven’t read anything by her before so this was a completely new author to me. I loved that the author took some historic, real events and incorporated them into a story with magical elements. That’s one of the things that I love about magical realism books–the gentle and subtle use of magic. It wasn’t over done in any way.
Reading this book was a complete surprise to me, it wasn’t what I expected but the story and characters drew me in. I was enchanted by tone of the over all novel. It was at times sad but yet in a strange way uplifting. It made me feel good but yet tugged at the heart strings. I love books like that.
This was an easy 5 star review for me. I loved it and read it in only a matter of days. It was a pleasant surprise in the closing days of my summer reading. Put on a pot of tea and get ready to get lost and enjoy this one! Truly a book you can lose yourself in!
See my full review here
June 2, 2017
4.5 stars
This was a delightful read, drawing me in instantly and keeping me hooked the whole time! Frances was an enchanting narrator, I loved hearing things through her and seeing it as she did. My knowledge of the Cottingley fairies & pictures was very minimal previous to this. I, like any fairy-loving human, loved the way Hazel Gaynor wrote this book, making all the descriptions so vivid and lifelike, yet still giving us the ability to use our own imagination. There is also a contemporary storyline, involving Olivia who is at a crossroads in her life. She has some hard decisions to make and her grandpa's old bookshop is a safe haven for her. Her story is also compelling and how hers intersects with Frances & Elsie's is heartwarming. Again, Frances was the key to this success of this novel! She evoked sympathy & empathy the whole time. You could imagine yourself in her shoes and what you would do. The author did an awesome job of laying out the facts without any "blame" or ill will. I enjoyed the bonus material at the end, and even did a little research of my own after finishing it. I'm so enthused with it, I plan to do additional reading. Highly recommended to historical fiction fans!
**Many thanks to the GoodReads FirstReads program for a copy to read and honestly review!**
This was a delightful read, drawing me in instantly and keeping me hooked the whole time! Frances was an enchanting narrator, I loved hearing things through her and seeing it as she did. My knowledge of the Cottingley fairies & pictures was very minimal previous to this. I, like any fairy-loving human, loved the way Hazel Gaynor wrote this book, making all the descriptions so vivid and lifelike, yet still giving us the ability to use our own imagination. There is also a contemporary storyline, involving Olivia who is at a crossroads in her life. She has some hard decisions to make and her grandpa's old bookshop is a safe haven for her. Her story is also compelling and how hers intersects with Frances & Elsie's is heartwarming. Again, Frances was the key to this success of this novel! She evoked sympathy & empathy the whole time. You could imagine yourself in her shoes and what you would do. The author did an awesome job of laying out the facts without any "blame" or ill will. I enjoyed the bonus material at the end, and even did a little research of my own after finishing it. I'm so enthused with it, I plan to do additional reading. Highly recommended to historical fiction fans!
**Many thanks to the GoodReads FirstReads program for a copy to read and honestly review!**
January 18, 2018
Being a Yorkshire lass, who is also half Irish, and having believed in fairies pretty much all my life, even before getting a tiny postage stamp sized letter from Fiona the tooth fairy when I was nine years old, I felt this book was made for me.
I imagine many readers will at least be aware of the old photographs of the Cottingley fairies. I remember seeing those photos from quite a young age, and have certainly seen a television programme or two about them. I loved how this story brought those photos to life.
This is not a quick thrill, fast paced kind of a book, but an atmospheric and magical character led story filled with deep emotions and the need to believe in something to give people hope. I will keep a part of this book with me in my heart.
P.S. I still believe in fairies!
My review is also available on my blog here:
https://littlemissnosleep.wordpress.c...
I imagine many readers will at least be aware of the old photographs of the Cottingley fairies. I remember seeing those photos from quite a young age, and have certainly seen a television programme or two about them. I loved how this story brought those photos to life.
This is not a quick thrill, fast paced kind of a book, but an atmospheric and magical character led story filled with deep emotions and the need to believe in something to give people hope. I will keep a part of this book with me in my heart.
P.S. I still believe in fairies!
My review is also available on my blog here:
https://littlemissnosleep.wordpress.c...
December 26, 2024
I finished reading and mostly listening to the audiobook over a week ago. This is the first chance that I had a few moments to write my review... finally!! Yay 😁!!
" If the confidence of children can be gained and they are led to speak freely, it is surprising how many claim to have seen fairies."
-- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
" Though her head be old and wise, you shall know that she has seen them by the glory in her eyes."
-- From a picture book that Frances loved about the fairies
I can't even begin to explain why I loved this book so much. If Goodreads would let me me, it would be a thousand or more stars!!! ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ This story touched my heart in a way that I can't describe. I grew up listening to my Dad's stories about faires, the rowan tree, Leprechauns, the little people, the Pooka ( puca) and so very many more things about Ireland 💚. This story contains all of these interwoven within the stories of Frances, Elsie and Olivia. I absolutely loved this masterpiece by Hazel Gaynor!!!
1917 Cottingley, England. We have the story of Frances and her older cousin, Elsie who saw fairies in their garden. They wanted their uncle to believe that they really saw them. Their parents and aunt already believed, but their uncle just laughed at the notion. Elsie got the idea to take photographs of the fairies, so they did. These photographs went everywhere. The girls didn't want this attention but they were interviewed by the newspapers, magazines and other people. They stuck to their story about seeing the faires and never changed it. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle believed so much that he wrote a book called " The Coming Of The Fairies". This book contains the 5 photos that they took. Please remember that this is 1917 during the height of WW1 and people across the world came to believe that if fairies existed, then they could have hope that the war would end.
2017 Ireland. We have the story of Olivia who inherited her Grandfathers bookshop. In the bookshop, she finds a leather manuscript from 1917 written by someone named Frances. She has no idea who she is. Olivia is taking care of her Nana who has Alzheimer's and barely even remembers Olivia and yet she remembers Frances and Elsie!" They told me about the fairies...they were fine girls," says Nana. The leather manuscript tells the story of Frances and the fairies.
St. Joan Of Arc was born in 1412, in the small French village of Domremy. She believed in fairies as well as her friends and people throughout the generations believe in fairies. Were these photographs an elaborate hoax? Were they real? Did Frances and Elsie truly see the fairies in their garden? Do you believe in fairies? It matters not to me. This beautiful story is based on the true story what happened in Cottingley, England. I know the answers that the book tells, but my lips are sealed 🤐! Read this enchanting story for yourself and decide what you believe. It's really worth your time! The audiobook has a fantastic narrator and I just closed my eyes and heard this amazing story play out. 🧚🧚♀️🧚♂️
" Like fairies, stories will not be rushed. Mine will take longer than most unraveling slowly over the years, like a winding stream without end or pause. I'd arrived in Cottingley as an uncertain young girl and left as a confident young lady changed forever, by the experience of the newspaper reporters and the extraordinary interest in our photographers."
--Frances
Enjoy and Happy Reading 💫✨🧚♂️🧚♀️🧚💚
" If the confidence of children can be gained and they are led to speak freely, it is surprising how many claim to have seen fairies."
-- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
" Though her head be old and wise, you shall know that she has seen them by the glory in her eyes."
-- From a picture book that Frances loved about the fairies
I can't even begin to explain why I loved this book so much. If Goodreads would let me me, it would be a thousand or more stars!!! ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ This story touched my heart in a way that I can't describe. I grew up listening to my Dad's stories about faires, the rowan tree, Leprechauns, the little people, the Pooka ( puca) and so very many more things about Ireland 💚. This story contains all of these interwoven within the stories of Frances, Elsie and Olivia. I absolutely loved this masterpiece by Hazel Gaynor!!!
1917 Cottingley, England. We have the story of Frances and her older cousin, Elsie who saw fairies in their garden. They wanted their uncle to believe that they really saw them. Their parents and aunt already believed, but their uncle just laughed at the notion. Elsie got the idea to take photographs of the fairies, so they did. These photographs went everywhere. The girls didn't want this attention but they were interviewed by the newspapers, magazines and other people. They stuck to their story about seeing the faires and never changed it. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle believed so much that he wrote a book called " The Coming Of The Fairies". This book contains the 5 photos that they took. Please remember that this is 1917 during the height of WW1 and people across the world came to believe that if fairies existed, then they could have hope that the war would end.
2017 Ireland. We have the story of Olivia who inherited her Grandfathers bookshop. In the bookshop, she finds a leather manuscript from 1917 written by someone named Frances. She has no idea who she is. Olivia is taking care of her Nana who has Alzheimer's and barely even remembers Olivia and yet she remembers Frances and Elsie!" They told me about the fairies...they were fine girls," says Nana. The leather manuscript tells the story of Frances and the fairies.
St. Joan Of Arc was born in 1412, in the small French village of Domremy. She believed in fairies as well as her friends and people throughout the generations believe in fairies. Were these photographs an elaborate hoax? Were they real? Did Frances and Elsie truly see the fairies in their garden? Do you believe in fairies? It matters not to me. This beautiful story is based on the true story what happened in Cottingley, England. I know the answers that the book tells, but my lips are sealed 🤐! Read this enchanting story for yourself and decide what you believe. It's really worth your time! The audiobook has a fantastic narrator and I just closed my eyes and heard this amazing story play out. 🧚🧚♀️🧚♂️
" Like fairies, stories will not be rushed. Mine will take longer than most unraveling slowly over the years, like a winding stream without end or pause. I'd arrived in Cottingley as an uncertain young girl and left as a confident young lady changed forever, by the experience of the newspaper reporters and the extraordinary interest in our photographers."
--Frances
Enjoy and Happy Reading 💫✨🧚♂️🧚♀️🧚💚
November 12, 2018
This book was inspired by the true story of two little girls in 1917 Yorkshire who convinced the world that the photo they snapped of fairies in the woods was real. The story toggles between the modern day when a woman discovers an manuscript in her grandfather's bookshop and the mystery of what really happened with the fairies a century earlier. Enchanting!
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