The mermaid and Mrs. Hancock

One evening in 1785 Jonah Hancock answers an urgent knock on his door near the docks of London. The captain of one of his trading vessels bears shocking news: on a voyage to the Far East he sold Jonah's ship for something far more precious - a mermaid. The object the captain presents him is brown and wizened small as an infant with vicious teeth and claws and the tail of a fish. It is also dead. As word spreads Jonah finds himself in the drawing rooms of curious high society. There he meets a shrewd courtesan of great accomplishment and both their lives take a dangerous new course.--back cover