author
Morrison Heady
1829–1915
A remarkably resilient 19th-century American writer, inventor, and advocate, he became known as the "Blind Bard of Kentucky" after losing his sight and later his hearing. His poems, children's books, and practical inventions show a mind that stayed inventive and engaged through extraordinary challenges.
3 Audiobooks
The Farmer Boy, and How He Became Commander-In-Chief
by Morrison Heady
The Red Moccasins: A Story
by Morrison Heady
Burl
by Morrison Heady
About the author
Born in Kentucky in 1829, James Morrison Heady lost much of his sight in childhood and was completely blind by his teens; years later, another accident left him deaf as well. Despite that, he built a literary career and published poetry and children's books, earning a reputation in his own time as the "Blind Bard of Kentucky."
Heady was more than a writer. He also invented devices to help with communication and daily life, including tools connected with reading and writing for blind people. He became an early advocate for books for the blind in the United States, and his work linked creativity with practical problem-solving.
He lived until 1915, leaving behind a story that is both moving and quietly inspiring. For readers today, his life offers more than historical interest: it shows how imagination, persistence, and curiosity can endure even under very difficult circumstances.