THIS IS TO THANK everyone who, over many years, knowingly or not, has helped me along Homer’s tangled paths.
George Fairhurst; Vassilis Papadimitriou; Gavin Francis; Robert Macfarlane; Ali Serle; Juliet Nicolson; Rebecca Nicolson; Aurea Carpenter; Andrew Palmer; Paul Johnston; Alexandra Chaldecott; Ivan Samarine; Jim Richardson; Oliver Payne; Claire Whalley; Koenraad Kuiper; Liz Broomfield; Mary Keen; Laura Beatty; Martin Thomas; Matthew Reynolds; Matthew Rice; Nicholas Purcell; Philip Marsden; Robert Sackville-West; Richard Klein; Sarah Longley; Sigrid Rausing; Stephen Romer; Thomas Pennybacker; Casey Dué; David Sansone; Garry Fabian Miller; Charlie Burrell; Issy Burrell.
Sofka Zinovieff is the best friend, guide and companion anyone could wish for. Tim Dee took me to all sorts of Homeric places in a way that transformed my understanding of Homer. Caroline Alexander came and talked about my Homeric ideas for many vigorous and illuminating hours. David Anthony provided supremely helpful signposts to the world of the steppe.
I would particularly like to thank Kylie Richardson of Trinity Hall, Cambridge and Matt Hosty of Jesus College, Oxford for the care and trouble they took in saving me from the worst of mistakes. Needless to say, they bear no responsibility for those that remain.
At William Collins, Susan Watt, Helen Ellis, Robert Lacey and Joseph Zigmond have provided unstinting support and expertise. Arabella Pike has been the sort of editor any writer longs for: careful, considerate, encouraging, responsive, generous and above all able to summon the better book that always seems to lurk just beneath the surface. Many thanks also to Hilary Bird who compiled the index
George Capel has been my stalwart friend and ally throughout, and there is nothing I could say to thank her enough.
Above all I would like to thank Sarah and the children for putting up with Homer, who is not the easiest of house-guests, for quite so long. This book is dedicated to them.
Sarah Raven
Molly Nicolson
Rosie Nicolson
Benedict Nicolson
William Nicolson
Thomas Nicolson