Writing this book has been a labour of love – certainly more love than labour. This may well be pointing out the obvious but Barthes was right: the author is dead. My experience has taught me that the whole process of bringing a book to life – researching, writing, refining – is never just about one person. This book would not exist were it not for the following people. Some have helped with the labour, some with the love, and others with both. To all of you: my deepest thanks.
The research for this book frequently led me to the Filmoteca Española in Madrid, and the wonderful collection of Buñuel material held in the archives there. I would like to thank Javier Herrera Navarro for being accommodating during my research trips, generous in his correspondence, and for digging out one or two unexpected treasures that influenced the direction of my research.
To Peter Evans, your comments and advice on my work have been invaluable. I greatly appreciate your input.
To Yoram Allon, Commissioning Editor at Wallflower Press, and all the editorial team at Wallflower Press, thank you for your professionalism and for ensuring that the whole process went smoothly. You have made the experience much less daunting than it seemed on day one!
I have to say a special thank you to the staff in Modern Languages at the University of Leicester, many of whom are my former teachers. Sheldon Penn, you have been invaluable in your academic and professional support. Thank you for inspiring me and for knowing how to give me the space to be inspired. Liz Jones, you are an inexhaustible source of practical advice. Thank you for showing me there is a sophistication in lucidity. Helen Rawlings, for your encouragement and support. A los hispanoparlantes en y fuera del departamento: Martín Agnone; Nuria Escudero Pérez; Sara Gómez Villa; Maria Guarnieri; Aurélie Joubert; Marion Krauthaker; Corinne Pelton; Ariane Richards; Carmen Sóñora Hernández; Anna Vives; Estefanía Yunes Vincke y Enea Zaramella: sois un equipo fantástico. Grazie, merci y gracias por alegrarme el día y por ser buenos amigos. Un besote a tod@s. Y a Clara Garavelli: muchísimas gracias por todo. Tu generosidad y apoyo no me dejan de sorprender.
Emma Staniland, I think it is best to simply say thank you for everything that you do: the motivational pep-talks, the advice when things go wrong, delicious cakes, inventive recipe tips and all of the coffees. You are a pillar of support always. In a nutshell: I cannot tell you how glad I am that I took the place of that old filing cabinet seven years ago. To my fellow northerner in the Midlands, Michelle Harrison: there are certain people – not that many – who light up a room when they are around. You are one of them.
To the students, past and present, I have been fortunate enough to teach: you have inspired and taught me more than you know. Your enthusiasm and optimism are infectious. Don’t lose them!
There are other people for whose friendship and support over the years I am truly grateful: Max and Michaela Batley; Kayleigh Else; Laura Foster; Claire Galvin; Rick and Carine Hutton; Katherine Jenkins; Ryan Lever and Liz Rowlands; Alberto Martí; Becky Meredith; Alison Paskins; Karol Valderrama Burgos; Lizzie Yorke. Thank you, Yvonne Cornejo, for the impromptu film screenings and the many discussions on heterotopias. Emma Johnson, for fourteen years of plans, adventures and brilliant times. Thank you for always being there. Ian Powell, there really isn’t much to say that you don’t already know, so I will just say thank you for being my best friend and a consistent constant in my life.
Lastly, thank you to my parents, John and Pat Ripley, and my family for your constant belief in me and your interest in everything I do. You all make me very proud to be a part of the clan and I hope I do the same for you.