In the Castle of My Skin is a 1953 autobiographical novel written by George Lamming. Set in Barbados, the story follows a young boy named G. from ages 9 to 17, providing a firsthand account of the author's adolescence. Beyond capturing the protagonist's youth, the narrative also depicts the changing social and political landscape of the Caribbean islands before and during World War II.

The story begins with a flood on the narrator's ninth birthday. While he is upset about the rain on his special day, the villagers, including his mother, see it as a "blessing." G.'s mother bathes him in the yard, and his friends, like Bob, laugh at him. Their mothers scold them for being a "botheration."

As the story progresses, the readers learn that the village has a strict social hierarchy. Mr. Creighton, the white and wealthy landowner, sits at the top of the pyramid, collecting rent from villagers. Black overseers enforce his rules. The villagers are at the bottom of the pyramid and struggle with poverty. The author reflects on the perception of Black villagers, their culture, and their language in Barbados and how they are considered lower citizens.

At G.'s school, the children receive pennies from the English inspector, who visits to examine the school and teach them about the relationship between Barbados and the British Empire. They wish to learn more about slavery, a topic they do not know much about. Meanwhile, the head teacher has a difficult time coming to terms with the fact that his wife has cheated on him with another teacher, Mr. Slime.

Mr. Slime is an ambitious and selfish man who wants to be wealthy like Mr. Creighton. The villagers like him because he promises to make them landowners when he gains more political power and influence. It becomes clear that Mr. Slime and Mr. Creighton are at the top of the village's social hierarchy. 

Due to his affair with the head teacher's wife, Mr. Slime loses his job but becomes the village leader. He suggests that the villagers go on strike, inspired by recent strikes in the capital. The discussion then shifts to the dangers of colonization, the inevitable fall of the British Empire, and the upcoming cricket match between England and Barbados.

After spending time at the beach, G. and his friends, including Bob, Trumper, and Boy Blue, walk by Mr. Creighton's house, where a celebration occurs for the newly arrived ship Goliath. While there, they see Mr. Creighton's daughter involved with a sailor and escape quickly when overseers chase after them.

Mr. Creighton thinks that some people from the village violated his daughter. The Old Woman, known as Ma, tells the Old Man, known as Pa, that Mr. Creighton feels responsible for how the native islanders behave but is also thinking about selling the lands. Ma and Pa represent the old values and history of the villagers and the Africans in the Caribbean islands in general.

Soon, the villagers find out about riots in the city. People from the city come to the village looking for Mr. Creighton, but he manages to escape and likely stays in the village until the end.

A few years pass, and G. and the boys are getting older. As they approach adulthood, Bob and Boy Blue become police officers, while Trumper goes to America for his studies. G. earns a scholarship for high school and learns about World War II. Some of his classmates decide to join the war, while he gets a chance to become an English teacher in Trinidad.

It is soon revealed that Mr. Slime has purchased the land from Mr. Creighton. Instead of assisting the villagers and helping them become landowners, he gives in to power and corruption, raising rents dramatically and even evicting some villagers.

Trumper advises G. to discover himself, explore the world, and truly thrive; he should follow Trumper's example and leave the island. As G. prepares to leave for Trinidad, he reflects on the future of his people; whether they can escape poverty, gain freedom, and find their own identities remains uncertain.