Islands : In Search of Brave New Worlds

What begins as a youthful search for freedom becomes a journey into the hidden realities of history, revolution, and identity.

In the summer of 1969, John Furlong leaves behind the noise and chaos of Manhattan in search of something more meaningful. America is changing fast — the anti-war movement, civil rights protests, feminism, meditation, drugs and counterculture are reshaping an entire generation. But beneath the excitement of this “brave new world,” John feels increasingly disconnected and restless.

Drawn by the promise of simplicity and escape, he and his friend Mike travel through the Caribbean, discovering islands untouched by mass tourism and modern excess. Yet paradise reveals another story — one shaped by centuries of colonialism, slavery, poverty, and political unrest left behind by the fading British Empire.

Everything changes on the tiny island of Carriacou when John meets Father Pat, a charismatic and deeply controversial priest determined to build a fairer society. Inspired by his vision, John is pulled into a world far more complex than he ever imagined.

But who was Father Pat really?

Now, fifty years later, John uncovers the truth about the man who would become connected to Grenada’s revolutionary movement of 1979 and its ambitious attempt to create a new society before it all came crashing down.

Part memoir, part historical journey, and part political awakening, Islands: In Search of Brave New Worlds is a powerful reflection on idealism, colonial legacy, revolution, and the lifelong search for meaning in a rapidly changing world.