The ghost of Annie Palmer: Giving voice to Jamaica’s “white witch of Rose Hall”

Abstract

From the renovation of Rose Hall plantation to the investigation of apparitions on Ghost Hunters International, the legend of eighteenth-century plantation owner Annie Palmer continues to thrive. Despite evidence that the legend is thoroughly fabricated, accounts perpetuate a reading of Palmer as Jamaica’s “white witch”. This essay examines the four written versions of the legend– James Castello’s 1868 pamphlet, H. G. de Lisser’s novel (1929), Harold Underhill’s 1968 text, and Mike Henry’s 2006 adaptation. Through a focus on the manipulation of violence, sexuality, and obeah I point to the legend of Palmer as a symbol of resistance and subversion. In doing so, I call for an understanding of Annie as an early figure of female agency.