The Coming of the Fairies is Arthur Conan Doyle's famous exploration of the Cottingley Fairies case, where two young girls in 1917 claimed to have photographed real fairies in Yorkshire. In this illustrated book, Doyle recounts the discovery of the fairy photographs – delicate winged beings dancing by a brook – and presents his investigation into their authenticity. He includes the girls' testimonies (Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths) and supportive statements from believers, alongside the actual fairy photos reproduced for readers. Doyle earnestly argues that these pictures are "epoch-making" evidence of a hidden elemental world. He contextualizes fairies in folklore and suggests that modern spiritual openness allowed these nature spirits to be revealed on camera. The book also addresses skeptics, but Doyle's conviction in the veracity of the Cottingley images is clear – he saw them as a hopeful sign of humankind's expanding perception. The Coming of the Fairies thus stands as a curious and iconic piece of paranormal history: a celebrated author defending the existence of fairies with scientific zeal and sincere wonder, complete with photographs of the alleged sprites themselves.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930) was a Scottish author, physician, and spiritualist best known for creating the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes. Born in Edinburgh, he studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh, where his storytelling talent began to emerge alongside his scientific education. Though initially practicing as a doctor, Doyle turned to writing to support himself, eventually achieving worldwide fame with the publication of A Study in Scarlet in 1887. Beyond detective fiction, he explored historical novels, science fiction, and supernatural themes, notably in the Professor Challenger series. A passionate advocate for justice, he was involved in several real-life legal investigations. In his later years, Doyle became deeply involved in spiritualism, dedicating much of his time and writings to life after death. His legacy endures as one of the most influential figures in literary history.