Robert Gore-Langton

Why Sir Arthur Conan Doyle believed in fairies

The author's fondness for emanations and ectoplasm ran in the family

‘An Enchanted Picnic’, 1882: one of the fantastical watercolours by Conan Doyle’s father, Charles Altamont Doyle, painted just before he was committed to an asylum. © Peter Nahum at The Leicester Galleries, London / Bridgeman Images

Already a subscriber? Log in

Keep reading for free

Subscribe today to get 3 months’ free digital access.

  • Unlimited access to our website and app
  • Enjoy Spectator newsletters and podcasts
  • Explore our online archive, going back to 1828
  • Plus, three months’ free digital access to the Telegraph

Comments

Join the debate for free — this month only

This month, be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for free. We’ll also give you three months’ free digital access to the Telegraph.

Already a subscriber? Log in