ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

A book is always a collective project. The idea took shape from conversations with Stephanie Convery, who was one of the book’s earliest readers and a constant source of support and suggestions. Jacinda Woodhead, Rjurik Davidson, and Alison Croggon all provided valuable feedback on early drafts, as did my agent, Jenny Darling. I owe a debt to those who assisted with my travels, as well as to the Sidney Myer Foundation for its generous support through a creative fellowship, which aided in the production of this book. I also thank Julia Carlomagno at Scribe for her enthusiasm for the manuscript and for the editorial advice that greatly improved it.