Overview
Richard Hughes’s 1929 novel, originally titled The Innocent Voyage, presents a compelling and disturbing subversion of the traditional child protagonist. When the five Bas-Thornton children are sent from their Jamaican plantation to England, their ship is captured by pirates. Rather than portraying them as helpless victims, the narrative delves into the complex psychological effects of their captivity, revealing them to be morally ambiguous and capable of violent actions. The story explores themes of lost innocence and the profound impact of trauma as the children navigate a world of shifting morality. The shocking narrative culminates in the pirates' trial, where the children's testimony, particularly that of Emily, leads to a tragic and unjust outcome, forcing readers to re-examine their assumptions about childhood, innocence, and morality. Still echoing through other modern classics, A High Wind in Jamaica spearheaded the thematic exploration of lost innocence and is often heralded as the literary predecessor to Lord of the Flies.
Since our inception in 2020, Mint Editions has kept sustainability and innovation at the forefront of our mission. Each and every Mint Edition title gets a fresh, professionally typeset manuscript and a dazzling new cover, all while maintaining the integrity of the original book.
With thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.
While major retailers like Amazon may carry A High Wind in Jamaica, we specialize in bulk book sales and offer personalized service from our friendly, book-smart team based in Portland, Oregon. We’re proud to offer a Price Match Guarantee and a streamlined ordering experience from people who truly care.
We’re trusted by over 75,000 customers, many of whom return time and again. Want proof? Just check out our 25,000+ customer reviews—real feedback from people who love how we do business.
Prefer to talk to a real person? Our Book Specialists are here Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST and ready to help with your bulk order of A High Wind in Jamaica.