In the mid-1970's, Jenny James created Atlantis, a commune practicing a new and radical form of primal therapy. As a result of a great deal of newspaper and television publicity, the community - known as "The Screamers" - became both famous and notorious throughout Ireland and the rest of the world. The book covers the history of the commune from its inception in 1974, and includes an account of the major events since that time - the required kidnappings, the IRA, threats, and the legal and political controversies.
In 1978 the founder, Jenny James, set out for South America with three daughters in tow. "I thought it was time to cut the umbilical cord with all western civilization. My goal was to go back, and back to a more natural way of life," she said. Her plan was to reach Bolivia, in homage to Che Guevara, but in 1983, after travelling throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, Ms James settled in Icononzo in the central Tolima state of Colombia. "I was completely seduced. Colombia has something so vibrant. It's a country which has everything," she said.