Acknowledgments

A great number of books and articles and documentaries about comfort women and the Asia-Pacific War have aided and propelled the writing of this novel, especially The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang; and Omdat Wij Mooi Waren (Because We Were Beautiful), a documentary by Frank van Osch.

Thank you, Nelle Andrew, for your bold guiding hand. Thank you, Marilia Savvides and the rest of the team at Peters, Fraser & Dunlop.

Thank you, Juliet Mabey, for your electric wisdom. Thanks to all at Oneworld for their support and warmth, especially Kate Bland, Anne Bihan, Alyson Coombes, and Paul Nash, all of whom helped put the book together, piece by piece.

Thank you, Peter Joseph, John Glynn, and Natalie Hallak at Hanover Square Press for making a safe home for Wang Di in the US.

Thanks to my parents, who generously allowed me to use our family history in this novel. (And who are still looking, sometimes, for that lost child.)

Thanks to my fellow writers, Bette Adriaanse, Erik Boman, and Genevieve Hudson, for your eyes. Thanks to Cheryl Goh, for your safe pair of hands.

Thank you, Marco.