“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 fascinating study in child psychology.”―New York Times “Never once has he struck a false note.” —Vita Sackville-West First published in 1929, ‘A High Wind in Jamaica’ is a haunting and unforgettable novel by British author Richard Hughes, known for his lyrical prose and psychological insight. Set in the 19th century, the story follows a group of English children living in colonial Jamaica who are sent back to England after a hurricane devastates their home. During their voyage, their ship is attacked by pirates, and the children are unintentionally taken aboard. What begins as a seeming adventure quickly turns into a disturbing journey into the darker corners of childhood. Through the children’s innocent yet unsettling reactions to danger, violence, and death, Hughes blurs the boundaries between morality and naivety. His writing captures the wild unpredictability of youthful minds and challenges romanticized notions of childhood innocence. Celebrated for its originality and psychological depth, ‘A High Wind in Jamaica’ was an immediate success upon release and has remained a classic of modern literature. With a tone that is both lyrical and disturbing, Hughes crafts a story that is as thought-provoking as it is gripping, influencing generations of writers after him.