Shakespeare's Island: St. Helena and The Tempest

For over five hundred years, the island of Saint Helena was reachable only by sea, but it now has an airport. Situated in the South Atlantic, 1,200 miles from the African coast and 2,000 miles from South America, few people know much about this tiny and remote island, let alone its likely role in The Tempest,one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays.

For over five hundred years, the island of Saint Helena was reachable only by sea, but it now has an airport. Situated in the South Atlantic, 1,200 miles from the African coast and 2,000 miles from South America, few people know much about this tiny and remote island, let alone its likely role in The TempestThe Tempest,one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays.

Join David J. Jeremiah, a former attorney general of Saint Helena, for an engaging yet academically sound exploration of this tiny island and how events and figures in the hundred years following its discovery in 1502 are reflected in the plot and characters of The Tempest.

Join David J. Jeremiah, a former attorney general of Saint Helena, for an engaging yet academically sound exploration of this tiny island and how events and figures in the hundred years following its discovery in 1502 are reflected in the plot and characters of The TempestThe Tempest.

While many scholars are convinced Bermuda was the inspiration and setting for the famous play,Jeremiah believes that Shakespeare had Saint Helena in mind. The early history of the island provides a Caliban figure, a plan to establish a colony there, and the astonishing idea that an Elizabethan sea captain would be proclaimed its king.

While many scholars are convinced Bermuda was the inspiration and setting for the famous play,Jeremiah believes that Shakespeare had Saint Helena in mind. The early history of the island provides a Caliban figure, a plan to establish a colony there, and the astonishing idea that an Elizabethan sea captain would be proclaimed its king.

Jeremiah makes a compelling case for Saint Helena being Shakespeare’s island, the island of The TempestThe Tempest.