FINISHING a book gives me the chance to acknowledge publicly those who have shared in its creation.
As always, Yves Pierre-Louis has been the wisest and most devoted of friends.
I am blessed to have Louise, Stephen and Bill Abbott as siblings.
Gabriela Pawlus and Michal Kasprzak have been steadfast friends and have contributed much to this book.
I am grateful to Cecile Farnum, for her insightful work on Byron’s mistresses, and to Richard Pope, for his original perspective on “framing charisma.”
My special thanks to Marta Karenova for her persistence and also her courage in exploring the literature of the Shoah.
Through Aspasia, Claire Hicks and I have become fast friends.
Leah McLaren’s advice was practical and fruitful—thanks, Leah.
David Lederer’s out-of-the-blue email about A History of Celibacy was manna from heaven. It led to his sending me the draft introduction to his and Otto Feldbauer’s upcoming publication, The Concubine: Women, Priests and the Council of Trent, granting me permission to quote extensively from it, and also critiquing my chapter on clerical mistresses. Thanks so much for everything, David and also Otto. My book is a better one because of yours.
My deepest gratitude to all the women who told me their stories. Your experiences helped me to understand. Special thanks to Louise Iushewitz for her detailed account of her life as a Jesuit’s wife.
My editor, Nicole Langlois, has encouraged me throughout—A History of Mistresses is her baby as well as mine.
My agent, Heide Lange, is always a breath of fresh air. She and Esther Sung, her cheerful assistant, have been caring and supportive. Their photo of Esther’s “Sweetiepie” still adorns my study wall.
I am overjoyed that my son, Ivan Gibbs, is following me down the writer’s path. Thanks also, Ivan, for pitching in so handily during the final stages.
I am grateful to Prof. Tirzah Meacham for advising me about the terminology of the Shoah.
Lastly, I would like to acknowledge my research assistants: Suzanne Hébert, Brent Jewell, Angie Lo, Jaclyn Ray, Kim Reaume and Marc Saurette.