The central conflict of Jamaica Inn pits Mary Yellan against a smuggling ring in North Cornwall, ostensibly led by her uncle, Joss Merlyn. Cornwall is located in the southwest of England, and has a history intimately linked with English mythology—Tintagel Castle, for example, is said to be the birthplace of the legendary King Arthur. Cornwall’s legacy of smuggling and piracy has become an integral part of England’s more modern mythology—so much so that the stereotypical “pirate accent” is partially based on the Cornish accent.

Cornwall’s rugged coastline, full of hidden coves and bays, made it an ideal place to harbor ships involved in the smuggling trade. As Joss Merlyn demonstrates, this typically involved the smuggling of alcohol and tobacco to avoid import fees. Jamaica Inn’s remote location on a major thoroughfare and its proximity to the sea make it an ideal waypoint for smugglers to rest and store their goods.

The region’s rough reputation was enhanced by stories of wreckers—men who would light beacons on the cliffs to lure ships into a false sense of security, only for them to crash against the rocks and sink. The wreckers would loot the ships and make off with cargo which, in du Maurier’s novel, would be taken to Jamaica Inn.