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