Journey of Tapiola

TAPIOLA, a small, pampered and insecure Yorkshire terrier, lives in a posh New York City apartment with his owners THE POPPELS. Having never seen anything beyond the four walls of his home, Tapiola decides that he needs some adventure in his life. He musters up his courage and steps carefully onto the hectic streets of Manhattan where he meets a vain canary named RICHARD who shares his dream of being a singer. Tapiola, with Richard at his side, ventures into the city determined to become a hero! Along the way, they meet JEREMIAH, the wise rat and former preacher. As their journey becomes more frightening and difficult with obstacles like lack of food and belligerent animals confronting them, Tapiola begins to have second thoughts. He realizes that being a hero is not all that it’s cracked up to be and is more difficult than he imagined. Robert Nathan crafts an adventure filled with charm, whimsy, and the touching reminder that the best part of any journey is often when we return home and sleep in our own beds.

About the Author: Author of such revered books as PORTRAIT OF JENNIE, THE BISHOP’S WIFE, MR. WHITTLE AND THE MORNING STAR, and STONECLIFF, Robert Nathan was born in New York City in 1894 and was educated at private schools in the United States and Switzerland. While attending Harvard University where he was a classmate with E.E. Cummings, Nathan was an editor of the Harvard Monthly, in which his first stories and poems appeared.

While at Cambridge, Nathan also found the time to become an accomplished cellist, a lightweight boxer, and Captain of the fencing team. After leaving college, Mr. Nathan devoted his time exclusively to writing until his passing in 1985. Early on, Nathan’s work strengthened his reputation with both the public and peers. F. Scott Fitzgerald once referred to Robert Nathan as his favorite writer. During this period, the legendary Louis B. Mayer contracted him to Hollywood to become a screenwriter. Nathan ultimately didn’t enjoy the experience, though the movie industry continually craved his work. Five of his novels have been made into films.

The aforementioned “Portrait of Jennie” and “The Bishop’s Wife,” as well as “One More Spring,” “Wake Up and Dream” (from the novel “The Enchanted Voyage”) and “Color of Evening.” Robert Nathan was the author of over fifty volumes of novels, poetry, and plays, and from this body of distinguished work he acquired a reputation as a master of satiric fantasy unique in American Letters. In the twilight of his career he was known as “The Dean of Author’s,” since many prominent writers including Irving Stone and Irving Wallace sought out Nathan’s guidance. A member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters for fifty years, Mr. Nathan called both Cape Cod and California home. Happily, his last fifteen years were spent in the companionship of his wife, English born actress, Anna Lee.