I’m enormously grateful to everyone who helped The Birdcage hatch from an idea in a scruffy notebook to an actual novel over the course of a pandemic. The editorial steer and unfailing encouragement of my editors Maxine Hitchcock and, in New York, Tara Singh Carlson meant everything. A huge thank-you, too, Maddy Woodfield – you put so much energy into this book. Also, Hazel Orme, Gaby Wood, Claire Bush, Louise Moore, Beatrix McIntyre, Vicky Photiou and the dream team at Michael Joseph who turned my previous novel, The Glass House, into a bestselling hit, despite the difficulties of publishing into a world that was locking down. My beloved agent, Lizzy Kremer, as well as Maddalena Cavaciuti, Alice Howe, Margaux Vialleron, Kaynat Begum, Imogen Bovill, Sam Norman, and everyone at David Higham Associates who kept authors’ home fires burning during the most uncertain of times. My friend Sacha Newley, for talking to me from his studio, via Zoom, about the painting process. Chloe Wood, for answering so many questions about galleries and art on our dog walks. Gregory Lander for sharing his knowledge of the African Grey. (Many parrots, including the extraordinary African Grey, are now in danger in the wild, due to loss of habitat and the illegal wildlife trade: there’s information about what we can do to protect them at The World Parrot Trust www.parrots.org) The stellar novelists Sarah Vaughan and Claire Douglas for reading the first proofs so generously, so quickly; Tess McPherson, dear friend and dermatologist extraordinaire, for the swims and sorting out my sore eyes – long story! – which meant I could comfortably finish writing this novel. My brood: Oscar, Jago and Alice, I love you very much. You’ve been troupers throughout. This novel would have been impossible to write without you, Ben. Thank you doesn’t begin to cover it. So this is for you, with love. Last, not least, my readers – the best readers in town – for all your messages and blogs and reviews. (And for liking my dog posts.) Thank you, thank you, thank you. I hope you enjoy this novel too.