Big thanks to Riyaz Mir, whose cooking and companionship have kept me going, and to my friend Sheila Coggon, for lending me her Goan hideaway for at least one draft’s worth. Likewise to the Civitella Ranieri Centre in Umbria, where these pages were completed. On the editorial front, I am indebted to the formidable talents of Alison Lowry, Toby Mundy and Ellen Seligman, as well as Tony Peake and Nigel Maister, whose critical observations have sharpened this book. I’m also grateful to Helen Bradford and Lance van Sittert for some useful conversations.