A huge thanks to everyone who made this book possible, it really was a team effort. To Richard Abate for all his guidance and tireless enthusiasm; Gary Ungar, and Rebecca Friedman. Thanks to the amazing team at William Morrow: Katherine Nintzel, Marguerite Weisman, Jessie Edwards, Molly Waxman, and Stephanie Vallejo.
A big thanks to my former Magdalen classmates, who donated their old essays to jog my memory of our syllabus. Thanks also to the staff, and my professors, Dr. Christopher Brooke, Dr. Lizzie Fricker, and Dr. Krister Bykvist among them, who made my time at Oxford so memorable—and inspiring.
Finally, thanks to the friends and family who offered me such support and enthusiasm: to Elisabeth Donnelly, Brandy Colbert, Lane Shadgett, and Elizabeth Little. To my mother, Ann, thank you as always for everything.