Journey to St. Thomas: Tales for Our Time - Hardcover

by Josiah Hatch III (Author), Cathy Morrison (Illustrator)

A Twenty-First-century reimagining of The Canterbury Tales, set on a vacation cruise in the midst of the pandemic; a wonderful story for our time

Hoping for an adventure (at a discounted price), two dozen strangers set sail for balmy St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands. As different from one another as strangers can be, they agree to pass the time by telling stories. As the passengers share their stories, they begin to learn some astonishing things about their neighbors.

Then, partway through the voyage, they are notified about a virus that has spread across the United States and their destination. The ship is quarantined, and they are destined to loll on the waves of the open sea until a port welcomes them.

Stuck together in the confines of the ship, the group continues to regale each other with ingenious tales. A Journey to St. Thomas is a modern reimagining of Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Josiah Hatch, who studied Anglo Saxon and Middle English languages at Oxford University, writes in iambic pentameter, craftily updating Chaucer's characters to those on the present-day cruise liner. Touching on topics that include political differences and discord, elitism, economic hardship, and the perceived inability of the ordinary citizen to make a difference, this rich and innovative novel captures the humor, insight, and pathos of the original while telling a very modern story.

Author Biography

Josiah Hatch was born in Savannah, Georgia, a fourth generation Georgian. He was sent at age 14 to board at Episcopal High School (founded 1839 in Alexandria, Virginia), and then to Princeton where he graduated summa cum laude in Ancient Greek and Latin and minored in music theory. A Marshall scholar at Pembroke College, Oxford, he studied Anglo-Saxon and Middle English. He spent a year in Italy studying Latin literature, history and art. In Washington, D.C., Mr. Hatch was a museum administrator at the Smithsonian Institution, a speechwriter and political aide, and, after picking up a law degree from Georgetown, a lawyer. In addition to his legal practice, he teaches courses in international business and economics at the Josef Korbel School for International Studies at the University of Denver. He is co-author of a legal treatise on Director and Officer Liability, Indemnification and Insurance.

As an illustrator, Cathy Morrison is passionate about nature, science and the environment. Combining her degrees in fine arts and education along with her background in animation and graphic design, she now researches and illustrates a variety of books ranging from picture books, creative nonfiction and chapter books. Cathy's studio is in the foothills northwest of Fort Collins with a panoramic view of the peaks of Rocky Mountain National Park. She enjoys travel, hiking, and gardening, especially with native, drought-tolerant plants that encourage pollinators.