In person he was cadaverous and blackavized, and his hair was dressed in long curls, which at a little
distance looked like black candles, and gave a singularly threatening expression to his handsome countenance. His
eyes were of the blue of the forget-me-not, and of a profound melancholy, save when he was plunging his hook
into you, at which time two red spots appeared in them and lit them up horribly. In manner, something of the
grand seigneur still clung to him, so that he even ripped you up with an air, and I have been told that he was a
raconteur of repute. He was never more sinister than when he was most polite, which is probably the truest test of
breeding; and the elegance of his diction, even when he was swearing, no less than the distinction of his
demeanour, showed him one of a different cast from his crew. A man of indomitable courage, it was said that the
only thing he shied at was the sight of his own blood, which was thick and of an unusual colour. In dress he
somewhat aped the attire associated with the name of Charles II, having heard it said in some earlier period of his
career that he bore a strange resemblance to the ill-fated Stuarts; and in his mouth he had a holder of his own
contrivance which enabled him to smoke two cigars at once. But undoubtedly the grimmest part of him was his iron
claw.
Let us now kill a pirate, to show Hook’s method. Skylights will do. As they pass, Skylights lurches clumsily against
him, ruffling his lace collar; the hook shoots forth, there is a tearing sound and one screech, then the body is kicked
aside, and the pirates pass on. He has not even taken the cigars from his mouth.
Such is the terrible man against whom Peter Pan is pitted. Which will win?
--J.M. Barrie, Peter and Wendy
James Hook's claw is on his right hand, which was taken by a
crocodile, the only creature he is afraid of.