A.E. Coppard (born January 4, 1878, Folkestone, Kent, England—died January 13, 1957, London) was a writer who achieved fame with his short stories depicting the English rural scene and its characters.
Born in humble circumstances, his father being a journeyman tailor and his mother a hostler’s daughter, Coppard left school at the age of nine and worked first as an errand boy in Whitechapel, London, and later as a clerk in Brighton and Oxford. His love for literature, painting, and music led him to abandon his office career; he settled in a cottage in the country, and his first book of short stories, Adam and Eve and Pinch Me, was published when he was 43. His talent was recognized and other collections of stories followed, including Fishmonger’s Fiddle (1925), which contained what is perhaps his best story, “The Higgler.” The charm of his stories lay in his poetic feeling for the countryside and in his amusing and dramatic presentation of rustic characters. https://www.britannica.com/biography/A-E-Coppard
Alongside the Title Page I have placed the Notice To Subscribers explaining why my limited edition is one of 1,000 copies instead of the planned 750.
The prose in this delightful book I most poetic, beautifully descriptive and rich in alliteration, simile and metaphor. Examples will be given with the four pages containing Robert Ribbing’s splendid wood engravings to follow. Here is another: “The soul of man is like a tree that in autumn is shedding its leaves, the golden fruit of his ideals. O vanity! They fall softly, serenely covering the sweet soil until they are trodden by some hoof or scattered by winds. A few lie safely in nooks and crannies – until they rot. But the tree lives on. …….. There are tens of thousands of trees in this forest, and on every tree each year there are thousands of leaves……..they are my companions, I love them……Few birds haunt these glades, and few animals. The trees sometimes die and fall and rot…..”
“Once or twice an hour a train came snoring across the viaduct with a racket that tore the sky and made the ornaments topple on the mantelpiece” is another.
Apparently based on his own life the author has written an emotional life of literature and loves in fifty eight pages.
The fictional protagonist doubts his own emotions, believing he can only feel through his characters. His love life is mostly transitory.
The story is well crafted, fluently written, and with a good grasp of dialogue.
Here are Robert Gibbings’s engravings which I would recommend enlarging in the galleries.
I didn’t know of this writer, but as you write, he is poetic, and the engravings are beautiful.
Thank you very much, Merril
I’m so glad that I enlarged the engravings as you recommended — absolutely beautiful!
Thank you so much, Donna
Lovely, Derrick. Thanks for the share.
Thanks very much, Pat
I didn’t know about this writer either. I will look him up.
On another bookish subject…you inspired me to reread The Secret Garden. I am enjoying it so much. I really like how Burnett makes the reader sympathize with an unlikable little girl. Also, wonderful to watch Mary bloom with fresh air, exercise, and the care of Martha.
Thank you so much, Laurie
What a wonderful poetic read! The author’s writing is so vivid and descriptive.
The illustrations! 🙂 I’d love to frame them and hang in my home!
Thank you for taking the time to share this book with us, Derrick!
(((HUGS))) ❤️❤️
Much appreciated, Carolyn XX
A fabulous description of the author A. E. Coppard and his wonderful stories … and plates/engravings are superb, Derrick …
Thanks very much, Ivor
I enjoyed your review of Coppard’s work, Derrick. The excerpts of prose you included are wonderful to read.
Thank you very much, Lavinia
An incredible storyteller.
Thank you very much, Rosaliene
Terrific engravings and delightful, engaging prose.
Thank you so much, Dolly
My pleasure, Derrick.
It never ceases to amaze me how well some people do sans the education deemed vital these days for any success.
Thank you so much, Anne
What a lovely book!
Thank you very much, Riba
Never heard of this writer before but I’m going to look out his works
Thanks very much, Sheree
Zoomed in, they are so good.
Thanks very much, Gary
He writes beautifully; it’s amazing how he starts talking straight to the heart. Unfortunately, the author isn’t available on the online bookshops out here.
Thank you very much, Uma. I have been thinking about you and hoping you are well
I’m intrigued by the opening paragraph. I find the voice compelling. I found three of Coppard’s books on Project Guttenberg but not The Hundredth Story. I’ve bookmarked your post so I can check again at a later date.
Thank you very much, Liz
You’re welcome, Derrick.