William John Hopkins

Born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1863, William John Hopkins was an American novelist and penman whose work was closely tied to New England settings and seafaring life. He died in Wellesley in 1926.

Hopkins wrote fiction as well as technical books. Surviving records and library listings connect him with novels such as Old Harbor, Concerning Sally, and The Doers, along with the Clammer Club books, including The Clammer and The Clammer and the Submarine. He also published works on telephony, showing an unusual range that stretched from storytelling to practical engineering subjects.

That blend of interests helps explain his appeal today. His books can feel grounded and observant, especially when he is writing about coastal communities, but they also carry the curiosity of someone interested in how things work.