I am once again indebted to family, friends and complete strangers, who have spared me their time, told me their stories, allowed me to climb on their field-gates with my camera, or tramp across their land to explore some long-abandoned house.
I am also grateful to librarians and the keepers of archives, particularly at the Irish Studies Centre and the Robinson Library in Armagh, and at the Banbridge Heritage Centre in County Down.
Even more encouraging than these generous people are the people who put their names on library waiting lists as soon as they know there is a new novel due. When the work is difficult or demanding, these are the people who keep me going, both by their numbers and their comments.
It is to them that I dedicate this novel: The Hamiltons of Ballydown.
ANNE DOUGHTY