A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes, published in 1929, is a classic novel known for its unsettling and adventurous narrative. The story is set in the 19th century and revolves around a group of children who are sent from Jamaica to England after a hurricane devastates their home. On the way, their ship is overtaken by pirates, and the children’s reactions to captivity form the core of the novel.
Hughes subverts expectations by focusing on the children’s strange detachment and ambiguous morality, making the book an eerie exploration of innocence, power, and survival. The novel’s blend of adventure, psychological depth, and moral ambiguity has earned it critical acclaim, and it’s considered one of the great novels of the 20th century.
