Winifred May de Kok (1893-1969) and her children

Alfred Edgar Coppard (4 January 187813 January 1957) was an English author, noted for his poetry and

short stories A short story is a piece of prose fiction that typically can be read in one sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the oldest t ...

Life

Coppard was born the son of a tailor and a housemaid in

Folkestone Folkestone ( ) is a port town on the English Channel, in Kent, south-east England. The town lies on the southern edge of the North Downs at a valley between two cliffs. It was an important harbour and shipping port for most of the 19th and 20t ...

, and had little formal education. Coppard grew up in difficult, poverty-stricken circumstances; he later described his childhood as "shockingly poor" and

Frank O'Connor Frank O'Connor (born Michael Francis O'Donovan; 17 September 1903 – 10 March 1966) was an Irish author and translator. He wrote poetry (original and translations from Irish), dramatic works, memoirs, journalistic columns and features on a ...

described Coppard's early life as "cruel"."Coppard, Alfred Edgar" by Thomas Moult and Clare Hansen. ''Dictionary of National Biography'',Volume 13, edited by H.C.G. Matthew and Brian Harrison. Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2004. (pp. 360-61). He quit school at the age of nine to work as an errand boy for a Jewish trouser maker in

Whitechapel Whitechapel is a district in East London and the future administrative centre of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It is a part of the East End of London, east of Charing Cross. Part of the historic county of Middlesex, the area formed ...

during the period of the

Jack the Ripper Jack the Ripper was an unidentified serial killer active in and around the impoverished Whitechapel district of London, England, in the autumn of 1888. In both criminal case files and the contemporaneous journalistic accounts, the killer wa ...

murders. During the early 1920s, still unpublished, he was in

Oxford Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to the ...

and was part of a literary group, the ''New Elizabethans'', who met in a pub to read

Elizabethan drama English Renaissance theatre, also known as Renaissance English theatre and Elizabethan theatre, refers to the theatre of England between 1558 and 1642. This is the style of the plays of William Shakespeare, Christopher Marlowe and Ben Jonson ...

W. B. Yeats William Butler Yeats (13 June 186528 January 1939) was an Irish poet, dramatist, writer and one of the foremost figures of 20th-century literature. He was a driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival and became a pillar of the Irish liter ...

sometimes attended the meetings. During this period he met Richard Hughes and

Edgell Rickword John Edgell Rickword, MC (22 October 1898 – 15 March 1982) was an English poet, critic, journalist and literary editor. He became one of the leading communist intellectuals active in the 1930s. Early life He was born in Colchester, Essex, ...

, amongst others. Coppard was a member of the

Independent Labour Party The Independent Labour Party (ILP) was a British political party of the left, established in 1893 at a conference in Bradford, after local and national dissatisfaction with the Liberals' apparent reluctance to endorse working-class candidates ...

for a period. Coppard's fiction was influenced by

Thomas Hardy Thomas Hardy (2 June 1840 – 11 January 1928) was an English novelist and poet. A Victorian realist in the tradition of George Eliot, he was influenced both in his novels and in his poetry by Romanticism, including the poetry of William Word ...

and was compared favourably to that of

H. E. Bates Herbert Ernest Bates (16 May 1905 – 29 January 1974), better known as H. E. Bates, was an English writer. His best-known works include ''Love for Lydia'', '' The Darling Buds of May'', and '' My Uncle Silas''. Early life H.E. Bates was ...

."Coppard, A(lfred) E(dgar)" by Brian Stableford in

David Pringle David Pringle (born 1 March 1950) is a Scottish science fiction editor and critic. Pringle served as the editor of ''Foundation'', an academic journal, from 1980 to 1986, during which time he became one of the prime movers of the collective whic ...

, ''St. James Guide to Horror, Ghost & Gothic Writers''. London : St. James Press, 1998, (pp. 147-8). Coppard's work enjoyed some popularity in the United States after his ''Selected Tales'' was chosen as a selection by the

Book of the Month Club Book of the Month (founded 1926) is a United States subscription-based e-commerce service that offers a selection of five to seven new hardcover books each month to its members. Books are selected and endorsed by a panel of judges, and members c ...

. In his mini-biography in ''Twentieth Century Authors'', Coppard lists

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...

as the politician he admired most.''Twentieth century authors, a biographical dictionary of modern literature'', edited by Stanley J. Kunitz and Howard Haycraft; (Third Edition). New York, The H.W. Wilson Company, 1950 (p.312-312) Coppard also listed Sterne,

Dickens Charles John Huffam Dickens (; 7 February 1812 – 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian er ...

James James is a common English language surname and given name: *James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambiguat ...

, Hardy, Shaw,

Chekhov Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (; 29 January 1860 Old Style date 17 January. – 15 July 1904 Old Style date 2 July.) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer who is considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time. His career ...

and Joyce as authors he valued; conversely, he expressed a dislike for the works of

D. H. Lawrence David Herbert Lawrence (11 September 1885 – 2 March 1930) was an English writer, novelist, poet and essayist. His works reflect on modernity, industrialization, sexuality, emotional health, vitality, spontaneity and instinct. His best-k ...

T. E. Lawrence Thomas Edward Lawrence (16 August 1888 – 19 May 1935) was a British archaeologist, army officer, diplomat, and writer who became renowned for his role in the Arab Revolt (1916–1918) and the Sinai and Palestine Campaign (1915–1918 ...

, and

Rudyard Kipling Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( ; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936)''The Times'', (London) 18 January 1936, p. 12. was an English novelist, short-story writer, poet, and journalist. He was born in British India, which inspired much of his work. ...

. Some of Coppard's collections, such as ''Adam and Eve and Pinch Me'' and ''Fearful Pleasures'', contain stories with fantastic elements, either of supernatural horror or

allegorical As a literary device or artistic form, an allegory is a narrative or visual representation in which a character, place, or event can be interpreted to represent a hidden meaning with moral or political significance. Authors have used allegory th ...

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...

. In Nancy Cunard's 1937 book ''Authors take Sides on the Spanish War'', Coppard endorsed the Republicans. A. E. Coppard was the uncle of George Coppard, a British soldier who served with the UK

Machine Gun Corps The Machine Gun Corps (MGC) was a corps of the British Army, formed in October 1915 in response to the need for more effective use of machine guns on the Western Front in the First World War. The Heavy Branch of the MGC was the first to use tank ...

during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, known for his memoirs ''With A Machine Gun to Cambrai''.

Critical reception

Coppard's short stories were praised by

Ford Madox Ford Ford Madox Ford (né Joseph Leopold Ford Hermann Madox Hueffer ( ); 17 December 1873 – 26 June 1939) was an English novelist, poet, critic and editor whose journals ''The English Review'' and ''The Transatlantic Review'' were instrumental in ...

and

. Coppard's book ''Nixey's Harlequin'' received good reviews from Leonard Strong,

Gerald Bullett Gerald William Bullett (30 December 1893 – 3 January 1958) was a British man of letters. He was known as a novelist, essayist, short story writer, critic and poet. He wrote both supernatural fiction and some children's literature. A few of his ...

, and ''

The Times Literary Supplement ''The Times Literary Supplement'' (''TLS'') is a weekly literary review published in London by News UK, a subsidiary of News Corp. History The ''TLS'' first appeared in 1902 as a supplement to ''The Times'' but became a separate publication i ...

'' (which praised Coppard's "brilliant virtuosity as a pure spinner of tales"). Coppard's supernatural fiction was admired by

Algernon Blackwood Algernon Henry Blackwood, CBE (14 March 1869 – 10 December 1951) was an English broadcasting narrator, journalist, novelist and short story writer, and among the most prolific ghost story writers in the history of the genre. The literary cri ...

."Blackwood was widely read in supernatural fiction and he remarked to Derleth that authors like A. E. Coppard,

H. Russell Wakefield Herbert Russell Wakefield (1888 – 2 August 1964) was an English short-story writer, novelist, publisher, and civil servant chiefly remembered today for his ghost stories. Life Wakefield was the third of four children of the clergyman Henry Russ ...

Henry S. Whitehead Henry St. Clair Whitehead (March 5, 1882 – November 23, 1932) was an American Episcopal minister and author of horror and fantasy fiction."In Memoriam: Henry St. Clair Whitehead". H. P. Lovecraft. Reprinted in Robert Weinberg, ''The Weird ...

May Sinclair May Sinclair was the pseudonym of Mary Amelia St. Clair (24 August 1863 – 14 November 1946), a popular British writer who wrote about two dozen novels, short stories and poetry. She was an active suffragist, and member of the Woman Writers' S ...

and Mary Wilkins Freeman never failed to please." Mike Ashley, ''Starlight Man : The Extraordinary Life of Algernon Blackwood''. London : Constable, 2001. (p.321) Brian Stableford argues that Coppard's fantasy has a similar style to that of

Walter de la Mare Walter John de la Mare (; 25 April 1873 – 22 June 1956) was an English poet, short story writer, and novelist. He is probably best remembered for his works for children, for his poem "The Listeners", and for a highly acclaimed selection of ...

and that "many of his mercurial and oddly plaintive fantasies are deeply disturbing".

Works

Story collections

* ''Adam & Eve & Pinch Me'' (1921) * ''Clorinda Walks in Heaven'' (1922) * ''The Black Dog and Other Stories'' (1923) * ''Fishmonger's Fiddle: Tales'' (1925) * ''The Field of Mustard'' (1926) * ''Silver Circus'' (1928) * ''Count Stefan'' (1928) * ''The Higgler'' (1930) * ''Nixey's Harlequin'' (1931) * ''Fares Please!'' (1931) * ''Crotty Shinkwin and The Beauty Spot'' (1932) * ''Dunky Fitlow'' (1933) * ''Ring the Bells of Heaven'' (1933) * ''Emergency Exit'' (1934) * ''Pink Furniture'' (1930) * ''Polly Oliver'' (1935) * ''Ninepenny Flute'' (1937) * ''You Never Know, Do You?'' (1939) * ''Ugly Anna'' (1944) * '' Fearful Pleasures'' (1946) * ''Selected Tales'' (1946) * ''The Dark Eyed Lady – Fourteen Tales'' (1947) * ''Collected Tales'' (1948) * ''Lucy in Her Pink Coat'' (1954) * ''Selected Stories'' (1972) * ''The Collected Tales of A. E. Coppard'' (1976) * ''The Higgler and Other Stories'' (1991) * ''The Man from the Caravan and Other Stories'' (1999) * ''Father Raven and Other Tales'' (2006) * ''Weep not my wanton : selected short stories'' (2013)

Poetry collections

* ''Hips and Haws'' (1922) * ''Yokohoma Garland & Other Poems'' (1926) * ''Pelaga and Other Poems'' (1926) * ''The Collected Poems of A. E. Coppard'' (1928) * ''Cherry Ripe: Poems'' (1935) * ''Simple Day: Selected Poems'' (1978)

Chapbooks

* ''The Hundredth Story of A. E. Coppard'' (1930)( Illustrated by

Robert Gibbings Robert John Gibbings (23 March 1889 – 19 January 1958) was an Irish artist and author who was most noted for his work as a wood engraver and sculptor, and for his books on travel and natural history.Martin J. Andrews, ''The Life and Work of R ...

) * ''Cheefoo'' (1932) * ''Good Samaritans'' (1934) * ''These Hopes of Heaven'' (1934) * ''Tapster's Tapestry :A Tale'' (1938) (Illustrated by Gwenda Morgan)

Non-Fiction

* ''Rummy: that noble game expounded in prose, poetry, diagram and engraving'' (1932) (Illustrated by Robert Gibbings).

As editor

* ''Songs from

Robert Burns Robert Burns (25 January 175921 July 1796), also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who hav ...

''. Selected by A. E. Coppard, with wood engravings by

Mabel Annesley Lady Mabel Marguerite Annesley ''HRUA'' (25 February 1881 – 19 June 1959) was a wood-engraver and watercolour painter. Her work is in many collections, including the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, the National Gallery of Canada ...

(1925)

Contributor

* ''Consequences, a complete story in the manner of the old parlour game, in nine chapters, each by a different author'' (1932) (Coppard was one of the contributors to this book; the others were

Seán Ó Faoláin Seán Proinsias Ó Faoláin (27 February 1900 – 20 April 1991) was one of the most influential figures in 20th-century Irish culture. A short-story writer of international repute, he was also a leading commentator and critic. Biography Ó ...

Elizabeth Bowen Elizabeth Bowen CBE (; 7 June 1899 – 22 February 1973) was an Irish-British novelist and short story writer notable for her books about the "big house" of Irish landed Protestants as well her fiction about life in wartime London. Life E ...

John Van Druten John William Van Druten (1 June 190119 December 1957) was an English playwright and theatre director. He began his career in London, and later moved to America, becoming a U.S. citizen. He was known for his plays of witty and urbane observation ...

, Gladys Bronwyn Stern, Ronald Fraser, Malachi Whitaker,

Norah Hoult Eleanor Lucy Hoult, known by her pen name Norah Hoult, (10 September 1898 – 6 April 1984) was an Irish writer of novels and short stories. A prolific writer, Hoult wrote twenty-three novels and four short story collections. Her work deals primar ...

and Hamish Maclaren.) * ''The Fairies Return, or New Tales for Old'' (1934)

Autobiography

* ''It's Me, O Lord!'' (1957)

References

Notes

External links

* * * *

at the Supernatural Fiction Database * * *
Finding aid to Alfred Edgar Coppard letters at Columbia University. Rare Book & Manuscript Library.
* A. E. Coppard Collection. General Collection, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University {{DEFAULTSORT:Coppard, Alfred 1878 births 1957 deaths Chapbook writers English fantasy writers English horror writers English male novelists English male poets English male short story writers English short story writers People from Folkestone