The Tale of Albert Walker

The Tale of Albert Walker is a humorous and profound tale that gives the reader an appreciation for Jamaica’s culture and history, and also a basic knowledge of what Jamaica was like in the late eighteen hundreds into the early nineteenth century.

It is the story of a man named Albert Walker who was employed by a rich English planter named William Bembridge. Albert came down with cholera and was ordered to be buried without hesitation to prevent the disease from spreading. Thinking he was dead, they were on their way to the cholera cemetery when he revived and escaped by rolling from the stretcher and rolling over a cliff. The men surmised that he had just buried himself and reported the lie that they had buried him. A nine-night and funeral service were held for him, and the general opinion was that he was dead. He was however rescued by two Rastafarians who nursed him back to health with various herbs.

After seven weeks he returned to his home and caused great pandemonium in the village for they thought he was risen from the dead.