From the earliest germ of an idea, many people encouraged me to write The Specimens, or more generally, a novel. Among the first were Sara Sheridan, whose work I admire and whose words of encouragement meant a great deal, and Torcuil Crichton MP, in whose company I learned much of what I know about writing. Many friends listened to me work through ideas, particularly Geraldine Bradley in the earliest days. I wrote the manuscript over quite an intense few months, while also working in a challenging full-time job and serving on a public body board, and other friends and family members were understanding when I vanished for a while. When the first draft was ready, Dr. Viccy Adams was the kindest and most insightful first reader. Thanks to all/mìle taing.
My parents Jim and Moira Kidd helped as ever with the history; they can always be relied on to say they know nothing about a particular subject only to ring twenty minutes later with a perfect quote from Smout answering my query. For the rest, I made great use of the National Library of Scotland’s digitised maps holdings, and their wonderful ‘Word on the Street’ collection of broadsides, and of the Wellcome Collection’s digitised copies of Smellie and other C18th/C19th medical texts. A. W. Bates Anatomy of Robert Knox was useful for Knox’s early career (although, as noted elsewhere, I played loose with the detail).
The team at Black and White could not be kinder publishers. Thanks to Campbell and Ali for trusting in me and the book, to Rachel for kind and insightful editorial, and to Hannah and Lizzie and Thomas and Tonje for all of their contributions to design, production and shouting from the rooftops. The broader Bonnier team welcomed me so kindly, especially Kevin. Big thanks to Fiona Atherton at Stonehill Salt and to all the many bookshops, festivals, journalists and others who have supported the book so generously, and moreover who have been such great company.
Having been rather on the Dark Side historically as a publisher and then arts funding person, I have always been a bit shy of author spaces. This year I went along to my first Edinburgh meet-ups and have been made very welcome. Thanks to Mary Paulson-Ellis and Lucy Ribchester especially for that.
Last and greatest thanks as ever to Tom Morgan-Jones, for reading and comments, map-drawing far beyond the call of duty, putting up with the night terrors the subject matter occasionally caused me, and for the kindest support always, in all things.