Donald Henderson Clarke

Donald Henderson Clarke (August 24, 1887 – March 27, 1958) was an American writer and journalist, known for his romantic novels, mystery fiction, and screenplays.

Clarke was born August 24, 1887, in South Hadley, Massachusetts. He studied at Harvard but was twice dismissed. He spent his early career as a reporter, working for the New York World, The New York Times and the New York American. He started writing racy books about gangsters and women of easy vitue. His publisher, Vanguard Press, estimated he sold over 8 million books. His book Louis Beretti (1929), about a bootlegger, was made into the film Born Reckless (1930). Impatient Virgin (1931) was also filmed as The Impatient Maiden (1932). His book Female (1933) was ruled obscene.

He died March 27, 1958, in Delray Beach, Florida.