Scan barcode
lisa_bergin's review
I found it repetitive and it wasn’t really adding to the knowledge I had about The Cottingley Fairies, so decided not to continue.
jaironside's review
4.0
I've always found the account of the Cottingley fairies fascinating, not least because of how it seems to work on us and make us want to believe. As if it taps into the part of child hood we tidy away when we stop believing in Father Christmas and yanks a few threads, reawakening that innocent sense of wonder at a world where anything could happen. This is now an infamous hoax and yet there are still eements which are unexplained - I really like that in a mystery ;)
As an account this is not in the least unbiased. Joe Cooper tells us from the start that he is a believer and wanted the photos to be real.However his declared bias actually adds credibility to his account - as do the numerous letters, fact collecting missions and recorded conversations he gleaned from those involved. The end result? Well actually it's hard to say. On one hand the photos couldn't possibly be real - if someone tried that today they'd be laughed out of the dark room. But back in 1920? There's a greater mystery beneath the hoax which no one ever really gets close too, although Cooper tries. Ultimately despite his personal bias, Cooper presents the facts in an unvarnished way that lead us to the conclusion of it being a hoax and even a little about why. Either way if you like a look at the potentially paranormal or at how hoaxes develop and start to take on a life of their own or are even a student of the human animal and want to know what makes people tick, then this is a good book to take a look at.
As an account this is not in the least unbiased. Joe Cooper tells us from the start that he is a believer and wanted the photos to be real.However his declared bias actually adds credibility to his account - as do the numerous letters, fact collecting missions and recorded conversations he gleaned from those involved. The end result? Well actually it's hard to say. On one hand the photos couldn't possibly be real - if someone tried that today they'd be laughed out of the dark room. But back in 1920? There's a greater mystery beneath the hoax which no one ever really gets close too, although Cooper tries. Ultimately despite his personal bias, Cooper presents the facts in an unvarnished way that lead us to the conclusion of it being a hoax and even a little about why. Either way if you like a look at the potentially paranormal or at how hoaxes develop and start to take on a life of their own or are even a student of the human animal and want to know what makes people tick, then this is a good book to take a look at.
More...