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A High Wind in Jamaica

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A High Wind in Jamaica

By: Richard Hughes
Narrated by: Michael Maloney
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About this listen

Set in the 19th century against a backdrop of island life and the vast surrounding seas, A High Wind in Jamaica is the gripping story of the Bas-Thornton children, whose parents send them back to England following a hurricane in the postcolonial Caribbean they call home. Having set sail, the children quickly fall into the hands of pirates. As their voyage continues, things take an awful turn. Narrated largely from the perspective of the children, the supposed innocents are not the only victims of amoral behaviour, but sometimes the perpetrators. As their voyage continues, things take an awful turn. Narrated largely from the perspective of the children, the supposed innocents are not the only victims of amoral behaviour, but sometimes the perpetrators. Praised for its atypical and unsettling take on the truth of human nature, Richard Hughes’ classic, first published in 1929, has been called one of the greatest novels of the 20th century, and credited with paving the way for other masterworks such as William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. Praised for its atypical and unsettling take on the truth of human nature, Richard Hughes’ classic, first published in 1929, has been called one of the greatest novels of the 20th century, and credited with paving the way for other masterworks such as William Golding’s Lord of the Flies.

©2011 CSA Word (P)2011 CSA Word
Classics Literary Fiction Fiction Caribbean Sailing

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Not magic realism, not drama, not mystery but subliminal horror

The lack of resolution in most of the events is clever. The author created an atmosphere almost of horror. My thoughts of the potential for tragedy with men and children were never realised. Their adventures were childlike encounters, cleverly recounted with an adult seasoning. The movie, The Bookshop was where I first heard of the book. The owner of the bookshop recommended it to her eager little female assistant, aged 10. This is not. Book I’d recommend to a 10 year old myself. To a teenager, yes.

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