A High Wind in Jamaica · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes.
Chapter 1
I
On the steamer to England, Emily grows physically and socially, becoming popular among the passengers. She forms a close bond with Miss Dawson but refuses to discuss her pirate experiences, instead absorbing details about England. Edward embellishes tales of violence, while Emily struggles with intimacy when asked to call Miss Dawson 'Lulu,' leading to a painful estrangement before they reach England.
Chapter 2
I
On the steamer to England, Emily grows physically and socially, becoming popular among the passengers. She forms a close bond with Miss Dawson but refuses to discuss her pirate experiences, instead absorbing details about England. Edward embellishes tales of violence, while Emily struggles with intimacy when asked to call Miss Dawson 'Lulu,' leading to a painful estrangement before they reach England.
Chapter 3
II
The Bas-Thornton family, having sold Ferndale after the hurricane, returns to England. The children arrive by steamer and train in a thick London fog, where Mrs. Thornton meets them at the station. Amid the chaotic reunion, Emily proudly announces she slept with an alligator, and Margaret Fernandez is rebuffed by the children. Mr. Thornton takes Margaret aside. The chapter ends with Mrs. Thornton realizing John is missing, and Miss Dawson asking who John is.
Chapter 4
III
The children spend spring in Hammersmith Terrace, adjusting to London life while the pirates are imprisoned in Newgate. They struggle to reconcile their own memories with the heroic narratives adults impose on their ordeal, particularly regarding John's death. Emily becomes increasingly withdrawn, and the family's dynamics shift as Mr. Thornton works at night and drinks.
Chapter 5
IV
The children are brought to Mr. Mathias's chambers in London for a formal interview about their capture by pirates. The adults attempt to extract a coherent account, but the children's responses are fragmented, playful, and evasive, revealing their trauma and confusion. The chapter highlights the gap between adult expectations and children's perceptions.
Chapter 6
II
The Bas-Thornton family, having sold Ferndale after the hurricane, returns to England. The children arrive by steamer and train in a thick London fog, where Mrs. Thornton meets them at the station. Amid the chaotic reunion, Emily proudly announces she slept with an alligator, and Margaret Fernandez is rebuffed by the children. Mr. Thornton takes Margaret aside. The chapter ends with Mrs. Thornton realizing John is missing, and Miss Dawson asking who John is.
Chapter 7
I
On the steamer to England, Emily grows physically and socially, becoming popular among the passengers. She forms a close bond with Miss Dawson but refuses to discuss her pirate experiences, instead absorbing details about England. Edward embellishes tales of violence, while Emily struggles with intimacy when asked to call Miss Dawson 'Lulu,' leading to a painful estrangement before they reach England.
Chapter 8
II
The Bas-Thornton family, having sold Ferndale after the hurricane, returns to England. The children arrive by steamer and train in a thick London fog, where Mrs. Thornton meets them at the station. Amid the chaotic reunion, Emily proudly announces she slept with an alligator, and Margaret Fernandez is rebuffed by the children. Mr. Thornton takes Margaret aside. The chapter ends with Mrs. Thornton realizing John is missing, and Miss Dawson asking who John is.
Chapter 9
III
The children spend spring in Hammersmith Terrace, adjusting to London life while the pirates are imprisoned in Newgate. They struggle to reconcile their own memories with the heroic narratives adults impose on their ordeal, particularly regarding John's death. Emily becomes increasingly withdrawn, and the family's dynamics shift as Mr. Thornton works at night and drinks.
Chapter 10
III
The children spend spring in Hammersmith Terrace, adjusting to London life while the pirates are imprisoned in Newgate. They struggle to reconcile their own memories with the heroic narratives adults impose on their ordeal, particularly regarding John's death. Emily becomes increasingly withdrawn, and the family's dynamics shift as Mr. Thornton works at night and drinks.
Chapter 11
I
On the steamer to England, Emily grows physically and socially, becoming popular among the passengers. She forms a close bond with Miss Dawson but refuses to discuss her pirate experiences, instead absorbing details about England. Edward embellishes tales of violence, while Emily struggles with intimacy when asked to call Miss Dawson 'Lulu,' leading to a painful estrangement before they reach England.
Chapter 12
II
The Bas-Thornton family, having sold Ferndale after the hurricane, returns to England. The children arrive by steamer and train in a thick London fog, where Mrs. Thornton meets them at the station. Amid the chaotic reunion, Emily proudly announces she slept with an alligator, and Margaret Fernandez is rebuffed by the children. Mr. Thornton takes Margaret aside. The chapter ends with Mrs. Thornton realizing John is missing, and Miss Dawson asking who John is.
Chapter 13
III
The children spend spring in Hammersmith Terrace, adjusting to London life while the pirates are imprisoned in Newgate. They struggle to reconcile their own memories with the heroic narratives adults impose on their ordeal, particularly regarding John's death. Emily becomes increasingly withdrawn, and the family's dynamics shift as Mr. Thornton works at night and drinks.
Chapter 14
IV
The children are brought to Mr. Mathias's chambers in London for a formal interview about their capture by pirates. The adults attempt to extract a coherent account, but the children's responses are fragmented, playful, and evasive, revealing their trauma and confusion. The chapter highlights the gap between adult expectations and children's perceptions.
Chapter 15
IV
The children are brought to Mr. Mathias's chambers in London for a formal interview about their capture by pirates. The adults attempt to extract a coherent account, but the children's responses are fragmented, playful, and evasive, revealing their trauma and confusion. The chapter highlights the gap between adult expectations and children's perceptions.
Chapter 16
I
On the steamer to England, Emily grows physically and socially, becoming popular among the passengers. She forms a close bond with Miss Dawson but refuses to discuss her pirate experiences, instead absorbing details about England. Edward embellishes tales of violence, while Emily struggles with intimacy when asked to call Miss Dawson 'Lulu,' leading to a painful estrangement before they reach England.
Chapter 17
II
The Bas-Thornton family, having sold Ferndale after the hurricane, returns to England. The children arrive by steamer and train in a thick London fog, where Mrs. Thornton meets them at the station. Amid the chaotic reunion, Emily proudly announces she slept with an alligator, and Margaret Fernandez is rebuffed by the children. Mr. Thornton takes Margaret aside. The chapter ends with Mrs. Thornton realizing John is missing, and Miss Dawson asking who John is.
Chapter 18
III
The children spend spring in Hammersmith Terrace, adjusting to London life while the pirates are imprisoned in Newgate. They struggle to reconcile their own memories with the heroic narratives adults impose on their ordeal, particularly regarding John's death. Emily becomes increasingly withdrawn, and the family's dynamics shift as Mr. Thornton works at night and drinks.
Chapter 19
V
Thornton and Mathias discuss the legal difficulties of convicting the pirates for murder, as the children have provided no clear evidence about the deaths of John and Captain Vandervoort. Mathias plans to put Emily on the witness stand, despite the unreliability of child testimony.
Chapter 20
VI
Emily enjoys outings with Mr. Mathias, who tries to question her about Captain Vandervoort's death but learns nothing. After returning home, she is violently sick. Her father watches her with a mixture of pity and fear. Emily is later given a catechism to memorize for court. At the trial, she initially performs confidently but breaks down when asked about the murder, revealing she saw the captain lying in his blood. The court is stunned, and her father hurries her home, where she seems unaware of the gravity of what she has done.
Chapter 21
I
On the steamer to England, Emily grows physically and socially, becoming popular among the passengers. She forms a close bond with Miss Dawson but refuses to discuss her pirate experiences, instead absorbing details about England. Edward embellishes tales of violence, while Emily struggles with intimacy when asked to call Miss Dawson 'Lulu,' leading to a painful estrangement before they reach England.
Chapter 22
II
The Bas-Thornton family, having sold Ferndale after the hurricane, returns to England. The children arrive by steamer and train in a thick London fog, where Mrs. Thornton meets them at the station. Amid the chaotic reunion, Emily proudly announces she slept with an alligator, and Margaret Fernandez is rebuffed by the children. Mr. Thornton takes Margaret aside. The chapter ends with Mrs. Thornton realizing John is missing, and Miss Dawson asking who John is.
Chapter 23
III
The children spend spring in Hammersmith Terrace, adjusting to London life while the pirates are imprisoned in Newgate. They struggle to reconcile their own memories with the heroic narratives adults impose on their ordeal, particularly regarding John's death. Emily becomes increasingly withdrawn, and the family's dynamics shift as Mr. Thornton works at night and drinks.
Chapter 24
VII
The trial concludes swiftly, with the judge condemning the pirates to death. Some crew members are reprieved and transported. The night before the execution, Jonsen attempts suicide by cutting his throat but is bandaged and carried unconscious to the gallows, where he is hanged in a chair. Otto kisses his forehead. The negro cook shows no fear, comforts the others, and proclaims his innocence, stating he would rather die innocent now than later guilty of a great sin.
Chapter 25
I
On the steamer to England, Emily grows physically and socially, becoming popular among the passengers. She forms a close bond with Miss Dawson but refuses to discuss her pirate experiences, instead absorbing details about England. Edward embellishes tales of violence, while Emily struggles with intimacy when asked to call Miss Dawson 'Lulu,' leading to a painful estrangement before they reach England.
Chapter 26
II
The Bas-Thornton family, having sold Ferndale after the hurricane, returns to England. The children arrive by steamer and train in a thick London fog, where Mrs. Thornton meets them at the station. Amid the chaotic reunion, Emily proudly announces she slept with an alligator, and Margaret Fernandez is rebuffed by the children. Mr. Thornton takes Margaret aside. The chapter ends with Mrs. Thornton realizing John is missing, and Miss Dawson asking who John is.
Chapter 27
VIII
Emily begins her new life at a school in Blackheath, where her parents leave her with the head mistress. She is introduced to the other girls, who are kind and innocent, and the narrator reflects on how Emily blends in with them.
Chapter 28
I
On the steamer to England, Emily grows physically and socially, becoming popular among the passengers. She forms a close bond with Miss Dawson but refuses to discuss her pirate experiences, instead absorbing details about England. Edward embellishes tales of violence, while Emily struggles with intimacy when asked to call Miss Dawson 'Lulu,' leading to a painful estrangement before they reach England.
Chapter 29
II
The Bas-Thornton family, having sold Ferndale after the hurricane, returns to England. The children arrive by steamer and train in a thick London fog, where Mrs. Thornton meets them at the station. Amid the chaotic reunion, Emily proudly announces she slept with an alligator, and Margaret Fernandez is rebuffed by the children. Mr. Thornton takes Margaret aside. The chapter ends with Mrs. Thornton realizing John is missing, and Miss Dawson asking who John is.
Chapter 30
III
The children spend spring in Hammersmith Terrace, adjusting to London life while the pirates are imprisoned in Newgate. They struggle to reconcile their own memories with the heroic narratives adults impose on their ordeal, particularly regarding John's death. Emily becomes increasingly withdrawn, and the family's dynamics shift as Mr. Thornton works at night and drinks.
Chapter 31
IV
The children are brought to Mr. Mathias's chambers in London for a formal interview about their capture by pirates. The adults attempt to extract a coherent account, but the children's responses are fragmented, playful, and evasive, revealing their trauma and confusion. The chapter highlights the gap between adult expectations and children's perceptions.
Chapter 32
V
Thornton and Mathias discuss the legal difficulties of convicting the pirates for murder, as the children have provided no clear evidence about the deaths of John and Captain Vandervoort. Mathias plans to put Emily on the witness stand, despite the unreliability of child testimony.
Chapter 33
IX
The children continue their life aboard the pirate ship, adapting to the routines and relationships with the crew. Emily grows closer to Captain Jonsen, who shows her a strange kindness, while the other children remain wary. The chapter explores the blurred lines between captivity and belonging, as the children begin to accept their new reality.
Chapter 34
I
On the steamer to England, Emily grows physically and socially, becoming popular among the passengers. She forms a close bond with Miss Dawson but refuses to discuss her pirate experiences, instead absorbing details about England. Edward embellishes tales of violence, while Emily struggles with intimacy when asked to call Miss Dawson 'Lulu,' leading to a painful estrangement before they reach England.
Chapter 35
II
The Bas-Thornton family, having sold Ferndale after the hurricane, returns to England. The children arrive by steamer and train in a thick London fog, where Mrs. Thornton meets them at the station. Amid the chaotic reunion, Emily proudly announces she slept with an alligator, and Margaret Fernandez is rebuffed by the children. Mr. Thornton takes Margaret aside. The chapter ends with Mrs. Thornton realizing John is missing, and Miss Dawson asking who John is.
Chapter 36
III
The children spend spring in Hammersmith Terrace, adjusting to London life while the pirates are imprisoned in Newgate. They struggle to reconcile their own memories with the heroic narratives adults impose on their ordeal, particularly regarding John's death. Emily becomes increasingly withdrawn, and the family's dynamics shift as Mr. Thornton works at night and drinks.
Chapter 37
IV
The children are brought to Mr. Mathias's chambers in London for a formal interview about their capture by pirates. The adults attempt to extract a coherent account, but the children's responses are fragmented, playful, and evasive, revealing their trauma and confusion. The chapter highlights the gap between adult expectations and children's perceptions.
Chapter 38
Chapter X
No excerpts provided.
Chapter 39
I
On the steamer to England, Emily grows physically and socially, becoming popular among the passengers. She forms a close bond with Miss Dawson but refuses to discuss her pirate experiences, instead absorbing details about England. Edward embellishes tales of violence, while Emily struggles with intimacy when asked to call Miss Dawson 'Lulu,' leading to a painful estrangement before they reach England.
Chapter 40
II
The Bas-Thornton family, having sold Ferndale after the hurricane, returns to England. The children arrive by steamer and train in a thick London fog, where Mrs. Thornton meets them at the station. Amid the chaotic reunion, Emily proudly announces she slept with an alligator, and Margaret Fernandez is rebuffed by the children. Mr. Thornton takes Margaret aside. The chapter ends with Mrs. Thornton realizing John is missing, and Miss Dawson asking who John is.
Chapter 41
III
The children spend spring in Hammersmith Terrace, adjusting to London life while the pirates are imprisoned in Newgate. They struggle to reconcile their own memories with the heroic narratives adults impose on their ordeal, particularly regarding John's death. Emily becomes increasingly withdrawn, and the family's dynamics shift as Mr. Thornton works at night and drinks.
Chapter 42
IV
The children are brought to Mr. Mathias's chambers in London for a formal interview about their capture by pirates. The adults attempt to extract a coherent account, but the children's responses are fragmented, playful, and evasive, revealing their trauma and confusion. The chapter highlights the gap between adult expectations and children's perceptions.
Chapter 43
V
Thornton and Mathias discuss the legal difficulties of convicting the pirates for murder, as the children have provided no clear evidence about the deaths of John and Captain Vandervoort. Mathias plans to put Emily on the witness stand, despite the unreliability of child testimony.
Chapter 44
VI
Emily enjoys outings with Mr. Mathias, who tries to question her about Captain Vandervoort's death but learns nothing. After returning home, she is violently sick. Her father watches her with a mixture of pity and fear. Emily is later given a catechism to memorize for court. At the trial, she initially performs confidently but breaks down when asked about the murder, revealing she saw the captain lying in his blood. The court is stunned, and her father hurries her home, where she seems unaware of the gravity of what she has done.
Chapter 45
VII
The trial concludes swiftly, with the judge condemning the pirates to death. Some crew members are reprieved and transported. The night before the execution, Jonsen attempts suicide by cutting his throat but is bandaged and carried unconscious to the gallows, where he is hanged in a chair. Otto kisses his forehead. The negro cook shows no fear, comforts the others, and proclaims his innocence, stating he would rather die innocent now than later guilty of a great sin.
Chapter 46
VIII
Emily begins her new life at a school in Blackheath, where her parents leave her with the head mistress. She is introduced to the other girls, who are kind and innocent, and the narrator reflects on how Emily blends in with them.
Chapter 47
Endnotes
The endnotes provide citations and clarifications for references made throughout the book, including a note distinguishing the tiger-shark of the South Seas from other species.
