Henry Leverage (died 1931), who also wrote under the name David Carroll Henry, was an author of pulp fiction novels and short stories. The son of an engineer who invented streetcar technology, Leverage was known for weaving colorful narratives, which often extended to accounts of his own life. His literary career was uniquely shaped by his time spent incarcerated at Sing Sing prison.
During his sentence at Sing Sing, Leverage served as the editor-in-chief of the prison newspaper, The Star of Hope. He was able to continue writing fiction behind bars, documenting the efforts of a prison reformer who managed the institution. His talent caught the attention of editor Harold Hersey, who visited him at Sing Sing and later published Leverage's work in Gangster Stories. Leverage's stories also appeared in other prominent publications of the era, including Argosy All-Stories and Blue Book.
Leverage's writing frequently drew upon themes of crime and the underworld. He authored a series of entries on underworld slang for Flynn's Weekly, which was subsequently compiled into a book. His published novels include The White Cipher, a mystery involving Scotland Yard and the London underworld, and Ice Pilot, a tale of whaling and romance. Two of his written works were adapted into films.
