author

Covington Clarke

b. 1892

Best known for brisk aviation adventures, this early 20th-century writer published under a pen name while also working as a lawyer. His stories often mix flying, danger, and a strong sense of youthful adventure.

1 Audiobook

Aces Up

Aces Up

by Covington Clarke

About the author

Covington Clarke was the pen name of Homer Clarke Venable (April 1, 1891 – May 14, 1953), an American lawyer and writer from Liberty, Missouri. Reference sources describe him as especially active in the 1920s, when he wrote flying adventures for younger readers, while also publishing some adult fiction under his own name.

His best-known books under the Covington Clarke name include Desert Wings (1930) and Mystery Flight of the Q2 (1932). The latter has also been noted for its speculative element, built around the discovery of a lost Inca civilization.

Clarke’s work has an easy pulp-era energy: aircraft, risk, and far-off settings are at the center of the action. If you enjoy vintage adventure fiction with an aviation twist, his books are an appealing rediscovery.