No Duppy in Our House

In 1895, in the Dry Harbour Mountains of Jamaica, Emma Whorms lives a comfortable life with her carpenter husband and two young sons. Quite unconventional for her time, she is a contented mother and wife who serves her family and the Catholic Church dutifully.One evening, Emma is surprised by a visit from a duppy, a ghostly presence known in Jamaican folklore. At first Emma tries to drive the spirit away, seeing it as a threat to her religion and family's integrity. But when she finds out the duppy is the earth spirit of her childhood sweetheart, Emma offers to help her friend so his soul may come to rest. Rich in history and folklore, No Duppy in Our House, explores the Jamaica of old and the traditions that carry forward to this day. Judy Fairbanks's years of research on her Jamaican family's history shows in the meticulous connections she makes between the characters of the book. Full of lovely details chronicling life in the late nineteenth century in rural Jamaica, this story combines historical fact with a compelling tale about love, loss, regret, and faith.