Critical Reception
The book received much criticism for its content at the time of release. Many critics responded negatively to the behavior and treatment of the children in the novel, ranging from sexual abuse to murder.
Others lauded Hughes for contradicting the Victorian romances of childhood by expressing the children without emotional reduction. The book is often given credit for influencing and paving the way for novels such as Lord of the Flies by William Golding.
In 1998, A High Wind in Jamaica was included as number 71 in the Modern Library's 100 Best Novels, a list of the best English-language novels of the 20th century.
Read more about this topic: A High Wind In Jamaica (novel)
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