The Immortal Hour: The True Story of Netta Fornario

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Mixing fiction with real events - the unexplained and controversial death of Netta Fornario, a remarkable young lady closely linked to the inner circle of the Occult Society of the Golden Dawn. During the Crowley's Hazard invasion of the United Kingdom, Fornario was among the reproduced members of the Golden Dawn who confronted Aleister Crowley in the graveyard of Westminster Abbey. In 1929, Netta Fornario came to the small Scottish island of Iona for a break from the hectic pace of London city life. Marie Emily Fornario or Netta as she was known, must have made an odd sight as she disembarked from the ferry dressed in her strange ‘Arts and Crafts’ clothes and swathed in a long black cloak. The Scotsman, 27th November 1929, said - “This “alien” woman, who dressed in the fashion of the Arts and Crafts movement – with a long cape and hand-woven tunic – settled into the house of someone only known as Mrs MacRae.

On the 18th of November, a family member knocked on her bedroom door but received no reply, so she decided to enter the room. I think Netta may have churned things up in her own mind to such an extent that she had decided to carry out a magical ritual to try and protect herself from whoever/whatever it was she felt was threatening her. She had confided with Mrs MacRae that prior to visiting the island she had gone into a trance that lasted a week, which of course alarmed the islander. Trouble is, Crowley was so full of hyperbole, that it’s very hard to separate out fact from fantasy with what he said).

Netta became interested in the island of Iona after reading a story by her favorite author, William Sharp, describing the area around Loch Staonaig where the fairies roam free.

Being a member of the Golden Dawn's remnants, Netta Fornario is a user of Golden-style Magic, though her specialities and primary tools are not known. This went on until autumn, when Netta sent a cryptic message to her housekeeper in London stating that she had a “terrible case of healing” that she felt she had to perform, and that she would be gone for longer than expected.Mrs MacRae said she hadn’t raised the alarm immediately, which (as I’ve said before) is understandable, considering Netta was prone to disappearing for hours on her own). Shetland Arts presents The Mysterious Death of Netta Fornario by Mull Theatre and Wildbird in Walls and Lerwick in June. There is something weird happening, a quiet muttering in the background and an eerie light on the simple set. You can read more about the purposes for which we and our partners use cookies and manage your cookie settings by visiting our Cookie Policy.

Widely mischaracterized in popular understanding, the early 20th century world of the occult has never failed to serve up a plethora of intriguing tales.A cross had been cut into the turf with a dagger (which was found nearby) and Netta’s body was lying on top of it. Her body was completely naked apart from a long black cloak and she was positioned either near or on top of a "Cross shape" carved in the hillside.

Originally published in January 2022 as "The Immortal Hour," this updated edition delves into the life, beliefs, and ultimate fate of Norah Fornario. Residents of the island pooled their money and buried her in a modest grave where she remains today. On such a small island it was down to good luck that she found a room at Traigh Mhor some distance from the village. To understand who, or what, killed her, first an effort must be made to understand who Netta Fornario was.It was later found that Netta had packed a ton (not literally) of luggage, so was seemingly planning to stay for quite a while. How she came to be there and the curious circumstances surrounding her death are a matter so strange and haunting that her story continues to resonate in retellings nearly a hundred years later. Why on such a tiny island, was she not discovered for two days and how did a woman so frail manage to travel over a mile barefoot without badly injuring her feet?