Interpretation of literary

l.The Author. Alfred Coppard (1878—1975) was a representative 
of critical realism in the XX century English literature, a trite disciple of 
Charles Dickens and Thomas Hardy. He was also greatly influenced by 

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the Russian literature. In his biography he-says, "The four great 
Russians—Tolstoy, Turgenev, Chekhov and Dostoyevsky always made 
a great impression on me, and Chekhov—the first among them". 
In 40 years of his literary activities he published more than 20 
collections of short stories and poems in which with his true 
democratism, humanity and gentle humour he describes the life of 
common people: workers, peasants, clerks and artisans, convincingly 
revealing the rich spiritual world of an inconspicuous little man. 
In some of his stories the principal characters arc children with 
their joys and sorrows, described with deep understanding and sympathy 
(The Cherry Tree, The Presser, Pomona's babe). 
Alfred was born in the town of Folkstone in the family of » poor 
tailor. They rented two rooms in the house of a carpenter. In 1884 they 
moved to Brighton. Alfred liked drawing and music and besides 
attending primary school he went to an evening school
of arts though 
the tuition fee was burdensome for the meagre budget of the family. 
When the boy was 9 his father died and the boy had to leave school 
and start working. He helped to sell kerosene in the streets while his 
mother worked as a presser in a laundry. As it was difficult for her to 
keep 4 children at 27 pence a week the boy was' sent to the relatives 
in London where he worked at a sewing shop and later as a messenger in 
a telegraph office. On returning to Brighton he worked as a junior and 
then as a senior clerk in tradesmen's firms. In the evening he spent much 
time in the Public Library and tried to write poems. Soon he began to 
take part in literary competitions. 
His removal to Oxford in 1919, where he got the job of a book-j 
keeper, had a great importance for the development of his literary talent. 
Here he could attend public lectures of prominent literary 
men, take part in disputes on books, come into close contact with college 
teachers and use the University library. In 1919 he made up his mind to 
completely devote his life to literature, retired from the office and settled 
in the country. 
Coppard's talent was most expressive in the- 30 s, the period of 
considerable achievements of progressive English literature. The titles of 
the most well-known collections of his short stories are: "Clorinda 
Walks in Heaven" (1922). "Fishmonger's Fiddle" (1925, •The Field of 
Mustard" (1926), "Silver Circus" (1928), "Fink Furniture" (1930), 

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"Ninepenny Flute" (1937), "Ugly Anna" (19-14), -Dark-eyed Lady" 
(1947), "Lucy in Her Pink Jacket" (1954).