Clorinda Walks in Heaven

"Clorinda Walks in Heaven" by A. E. Coppard is a collection of short stories likely written in the early 20th century. The tales explore themes of life, death, and the nature of existence, with characters that embody various aspects of human experience. The narratives promise a blend of whimsy and reflection, suggesting that the author delves into profound human emotions and philosophical questions through captivating storytelling. The opening of the book introduces Clorinda Smith, who is preoccupied with the notion of how she'd like to die, humorously insisting she would prefer a dry day over a rainy one. Despite the chaotic circumstances surrounding her demise, Clorinda's spirit seems undeterred as she unlocks the potential of her life and moves into a new realm. The subsequent passage paints a vivid picture of her journey through an ethereal landscape where she encounters visions of her past lives, signifying a complex exploration of identity, memory, and the continuation of self beyond death. This opening sets a whimsical yet reflective tone for the stories that follow, inviting the reader into a rich tapestry of imaginative tales. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Alfred Edgar Coppard was an English author, noted for his short stories, many of which had rural settings. Largely self-taught, he was championed by Ford Madox Ford and Arnold Bennett, among others, in his lifetime, and more recently by Frank O’Connor, Doris Lessing and Russell Banks. Some of his stories were dramatised for British television in the 1960s and 1970s.