Once again I would like to thank everyone who has embraced my books so enthusiastically. I am very fortunate to have such devoted readers, and I am deeply grateful to each and every one of you.
In the course of researching this book, I relied upon the collections of a number of libraries and archives. I would specifically like to acknowledge the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford, the British Newspaper Archive, the Mass-Observation Archive at the University of Sussex, the Museum of London, the National Archives (UK), the National Library of Scotland, the New York Public Library, and the Toronto Public Library.
I would also like to offer my thanks to Aaron Orkin for once again patiently answering my questions related to medicine, to Susan Coates for casting her keen editorial eye over the final manuscript, and to Stuart Robson for once again reading through my final draft so diligently.
I would like to acknowledge the debt of thanks I owe to the women who participated in the oral history project I undertook as part of my doctoral research in 1993-1994, the results of which I drew upon while researching this book. Though the participants in my project remain anonymous here, in keeping with a promise I made a quarter century ago, I have never forgotten the hours I spent with them, and I am deeply grateful to each of them for taking the time to speak with me so frankly and honestly.
To my literary agent, Kevan Lyon, and her colleagues at the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, in particular Patricia Nelson, I once again extend my heartfelt thanks.
I am deeply grateful to my former editor, Amanda Bergeron, for her understanding and support throughout the entire creation of this book, as well as to my current editor, Tessa Woodward, for her generous and able counsel. I am also very grateful to Elle Keck in editorial, as well as my publicists Camille Collins, Melissa Nowakowski, Emily Homonoff, and Miranda Snyder.
I would like to thank everyone who supports me and my books at William Morrow, in particular Martin Karlow, Serena Wang, Diahann Sturge, Robin Barletta, Amelia Wood, Jennifer Hart, Samantha Hagerbaumer, Molly Waxman, and Carla Parker. The producers at HarperAudio have once again created a beautiful audiobook and I am most grateful for their hard work. I also want to thank all of the sales staff in the U.S., Canada and the international division, as well as the wonderful team at HarperCollins Canada, among them Leo Macdonald, Sandra Leff, Cory Beatty, Shannon Parsons, and Kaitlyn Vincent.
Closer to home, I’d like to thank my friends for their love: Amutha, Ana, Clara, Denise, Erin, Jane D., Jane E., Jen M., Kelly F., Kelly W., Liz, Mary, Mary Ellen, Michela, and Rena. To Kate Hilton, Marissa Stapley, Karma Brown, Chantel Guertin, and Elizabeth Renzetti, my fellow members of the coven, my deepest gratitude for your friendship and support.
My heartfelt thanks go out as well to my family in Canada and in the U.K., especially my aunt, Terry Lindsay, and my uncle, John Moir, who patiently answered many questions about my late grandmother’s life and work; my father and stepmother, Stuart and Mariel Robson; my sisters, Kate Robson and Molly Robson; and my beautiful children, Matthew and Daniela.
Most of all I want to thank my husband, Claudio, for once again making everything possible. I could never have taken this journey without you at my side.