My thanks to Rick Moody for his impeccable attention. Susan Cheever has my devotion. Donald Antrim gave kind-hearted, clear-eyed guidance. Melanie Jackson is a wonder woman.
Thanks to Elisabeth Schmitz for graceful and judicious editing. I am grateful for the fortifying wit of Molly Boren and for Andrea Schaefer’s gentle, wry lucidity.
Thanks to my family: Hugheses, Beesons, Shoemakers, Theeses, McKennas, McCranes, Wirstroms, Shaheens, Hetzlers, and McCarthys. Especially my sister, Paula V. and my friend, Catherine A.
Sara Beeson, Alex Busansky, Brent Spencer, and Judith Kuppersmith offered expertise and clarity. My lasting thanks to all.
Thanks to The Corporation of Yaddo and to the people who work the daily miracles there. Thanks to my friends at the Writing Seminars of Bennington College, and those at the July Program, too.
I am indebted to a number of authors and artists: Robert Neese’s Prison Exposures (his “prank” photo inspired Persephone’s cherries), Murray Kempton’s essay “Undertaking Roy Cohn;” Jonathan Demme’s film “Roy Cohn/Jack Smith,” performance by Ron Vawter; Fool for A Client, Roy M. Cohn; McCarthy by Cohn, Roy M. Cohn; Citizen Cohn by Nicholas Von Hoffman; Autobiography of Roy Cohn by Sydney Zion; and Point of Order!, the documentary by Emile de Antonio.
Most of all, for his infinite generosity, I thank Duke Beeson with all of my heart.