Silver Circus

by A.E. Coppard

Unknown Binding

About the author

Alfred Edgar Coppard was an English writer, noted for his influence on the short story form, and poet.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._E._Co...

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book will go into the public domain in a few weeks when the clock turns over to 2024, and I thought I would check it out. There’s no digital version of this anywhere, and I can understand why. The works in here are fine, but odd. Few are memorable, including the pens I took down notes for. Probably the oddest is “The Almanac Man” where an almanac publisher fears the world being ended by a spiteful goblin, and goes to seek Santa Claus to prevent this crisis. “The Martyrdom of Solomon” is about a scientist whose experiments make thoughts manifest, but struggles to control his thoughts that would rain destruction down on those he holds dear. “Adolf Plumflower” is a melancholy misfortunate man who wishes to poison himself when his love is spurned by a druggist. “Purl and Plain” a Catholic and Protestant priest are summoned to baptize a newborn while the birthing is in process - Catholic if the baby is a boy and Protestant if the baby is a girl. There is much waxing philosophical about the fickleness of both men and women. The Irish Catholic priest drinks, smokes, gambles, and games reminiscing about light things, while the Protestant abstains from all those activities and reminisces upon the dour. Not quite sure what to think of this story. The best of the lot is the closer “Polly Morgan” which is sad and haunting. Seek out this story in another Coppard collection.