Clarence Hawkes

Born in Goshen, Massachusetts, on December 16, 1869, Clarence Hawkes became known as an American author and lecturer whose work centered on nature, animals, and poetry. Reliable sources describe him as a prolific writer, and his best-known books include Hitting the Dark Trail: Starshine through Thirty Years of Night, an autobiographical work about blindness and perseverance.

Hawkes faced major physical challenges early in life. As a child, he lost part of a leg in an accident, and a few years later he became blind after a hunting accident. Rather than ending his literary ambitions, those hardships became part of the story readers remembered about him: a writer who kept an intense connection to birds, forests, and country life, and who shared that passion through both books and public speaking.

His writing often reflects a direct, affectionate knowledge of New England wildlife, which helped make him a distinctive voice for young readers and nature lovers alike. He died on January 19, 1954, leaving behind a body of work that joined observation, feeling, and quiet determination.