A High Wind in Jamaica · Chapters

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Chapter companions for A High Wind in Jamaica by Richard Hughes.

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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 Emily becomes increasingly withdrawn, and the family's dynamics shift as Mr.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.

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