On the high seas of the Caribbean, a family of English children is set loose - sent by their parents from their home in Jamaica to receive the civilising effects of England. When their ship is captured by pirates, the thrilling cruise continues as the children transfer their affections from one batch of sailors to another. Innocence is their protection, but as life in the care of pirates reveals its dangers, the events which unfold begin to take on a savagely detached quality.

Writers' reviews for A High Wind in Jamaica:

'One of my all time favourite books' Ann Patchett

'I wouldn't let a 14-year-old near it' Meg Rosoff

'I read the whole thing in one gulp. It was remarkable. Tiny. Crazy. I felt just like I did as a kid.' Andrew Sean Greer

'When I really like a book I'll sometimes read a passage or two aloud to whoever's nearby; this one I'd happily recite cover-to-cover' Imogen Hermes Gowar

'A thrillingly good book' Martin Amis

'A quite extraordinary and unforgettable book' Ralph Straus

About the Author
Richard Hughes was born in 1900 and educated at Chaterhouse School and Oriel College, Oxford. A highly original and idiosyncratic writer, he wrote poems and plays as well as novels, but it is for these that he is best remembered, the most famous of which was his first, A High Wind in Jamaica, published in 1929. A remarkable man, he could number Masefield, Yeats, T.E. Lawrence, Robert Graves, Augustus John and Dylan Thomas amongst his friends and acquaintances. Married to the painter Frances Bazley in 1932, he died in 1976.

Reviews
I read Richard Hughes' A High Wind in Jamaica this year and felt breathless with shock and awe... Appallingly dark story...dreadfully funny. * Independent *
A High Wind in Jamaica is like those books you used to read under the covers with a flashlight - only infinitely more delicious ... and macabre -- Andrew Sean Greer * NPR *
Wow. Just....wow. This is a nasty, wicked little book. It's wonderful -- Lydia Kiesling * The Millions *



Book Information
ISBN 9780099437437
Author Richard Hughes
Format Paperback
Page Count 192
Imprint Vintage Classics
Publisher Vintage Publishing
Weight(grams) 159g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 14mm