THIS IS NOT THE BOOK Burton Feldman would have written. He died in early 2003, just after finishing a first draft. That, along with extensive notes, is what he left us. His wife and my dear friend, Peggy, believed with all her heart that the book should be published. She was too ill to take on the task of completing it, and so she turned to me. Nothing would have given her more joy than to have seen this book in print.
I first met Burton and Peggy as a young teenager. They became my lifelong friends. For a time, Burton was also my teacher at the University of Denver. I have fond memories of Burton in the classroom. Never have I met so natural a teacher—undidactic, passionate, humorous, sometimes contentious, and always able to listen. His brilliance never excluded, never belittled, never competed. On the contrary, it was impossible to feel anything but intelligent and worthy when in Burton's presence. With this book I feel blessed, as if Burton had given me yet another gift, one through which I could imagine the two of us in conversation again.
No one knew better than Burton how profoundly any piece of writing changes through the arduous and essential process of revision. The book's central premises and core research are his alone. Only Burton, a polymath with an abiding faith in history, could have imagined so much from the scantily recorded, unrecoverable conversations of four men whom chance and World War II delivered to the insular town of Princeton. I have conjectured and completed where it seemed necessary. For any errors or omissions, I am entirely responsible.
The list of acknowledgments must be incomplete. Certainly, Burton consulted with colleagues and resources unknown to me. I have tried to include within the bibliography every possible source referenced in the research notes, as well as those I have used in completing the book. Burton would have wished to thank the staff of Penrose Library at the University of Denver. Robert Richardson, Nancy Hightower, Helene Orr, Maria “Mimi” Katzenback, Gerald Chapman, Tug Yourgrau, and David Markson were friends and colleagues to whom Burton turned for inspiration and critical acumen. Burton's sister, Eleanor Feldman Werlin, was a source of love and support. Dr. Maureen Onat and Mary Ann Coats cared for Peggy and became part of Burton's extended family in the last years of his life. Esther Oliveri carefully prepared the initial bibliography from Burton's library. Tad Spencer did much early editing and assembling of material. Elizabeth Richardson and Tad were there for Burton and Peggy and have also been there for me. I am grateful to them both.
I am indebted to friends and colleagues who have been generous with moral support and with advice in matters scientific and editorial, especially Ellen Katz, John Fitzgerald, Diane Marks, Paulette Toth, Zulema Seligsohn, and Thea Stone. Family, friends, and colleagues at New York Institute of Technology bore my frequent inattentiveness with grace and patience. I owe much to the library staff of NYIT for their 24/7 reference portal and to the New York Public Library for use of the Wertheim Study. Darcy Falken-hagen was a stalwart believer at an early, critical stage. James Jayo's steady hand helped shepherd the book through production. Above all, I thank Richard Seaver for his thoughtful editing, generosity, and guidance. His affection for Burton and Peggy has sustained this project in ways beyond measure.