For this novel I have needed, and received in staggering abundance, so much help. The people at Pontas, particularly Anna Soler-Pont and Maria Cardona, fellow marvelers of the world, sensitive readers, ace agents. My editors in the USA and UK, Rakesh Satyal and Ore Agbaje-Williams, for unflinching faith every step of the way. Rahul Soni, my editor in India—though infinitely so much more. Side by side, helping me plant the forest. Star publishers Udayan Mitra and Anant Padmanabhan.
Ashoka University, for steady support, covering travel, time, space, and conversations with colleagues. Professors Upinder Singh, Malabika Sarkar, Mandakini Dubey, Bittu, Shivani Krishna, Saikat Majumdar, Devapriya Roy, Sumana Roy, Arunava Sinha, Amit Choudhury, Jonathan Gil Harris, and Madhavi Menon—for help and understanding at just the right moments.
Luigi Russi, for introducing me to Goethean science on a walk, long ago, by the sea.
Robert Macfarlane, for his excitement, for the immense generosity of his words.
Amitav Ghosh, for support, for synchronicity between place and reading.
Pranay Lal, for inspiration, introductions, and always, wonder.
Henry Noltie, caster of the sharpest eye over botanical references and much beyond.
Jim Reed, for daylong conversations, for his gift of Goethe’s Flight to Italy in translation.
LeAnne Broadhead, for marvelous resonance across the seas.
Staffan Müller-Wille, for exciting new material on Linnaeus in Lapland.
Bengt G. Karlsson, for generosity and new eyes.
Andre Hahn, who so unhesitatingly answered questions and shared his expertise.
Ankita Anand and Anupam Chakravartty, for their patience, and their reportage on the uranium mining issue in Meghalaya.
Andrew May, for excitement over nineteenth-century botanists in the Khasi Hills.
The TOJI Residency in South Korea, for a month of walks, tea, and nourishment.
The hospitality at Mimosa Ridge, Shillong—Anjali Nath, your home is a writer’s dream.
Yogita Chandolia, for ushering me into Professor M. V. Rajam’s laboratory at the Department of Genetics, University of Delhi, South Campus—and to all the scientists there for putting up with my amateur questions so patiently.
The librarians at the Kew Reading Room, especially Craig Brough, and at the Linnean Society Library. Anne Thomson, the archivist at Newnham College, Cambridge.
Nevin Gill, for wandering around Cambridge looking for Balfour Place with me until we found it!
Sam Miller. Before the beginning to beyond the end. All rounds at the Botanist on me.
Jeet Thayil, early listener, plier of endless martinis.
Shubhangi Swarup, who read this manuscript with such thrill and pleasure, despite the world burning outside.
Malvika Maheshwari, dear reader, dear friend, in whom I always find home.
Durba Chattaraj, for joy and bolstering and wicked, wicked humor.
Tishani Doshi and Akanksha Sharma, my stars.
Holly Ainley, for long chats and beautiful botanical garden days.
Nandini Gopinadh, for books and conversations and the best wine.
Jini Reddy, fellow wanderer and seeker of secret trails.
Tarun Bhartiya, Angela Rangad, for words, actions, courage.
Sonal Shah and Soumojoy Dutta, for keeping ’em coming.
Anurag Banerjee, for conversations, and walks, and whiskey sours, without end.
Reeju Ray, for conversations about everything and fathomless love.
Olivia Dalrymple, for friendship, and a heart full of love.
Willie Dalrymple, for all your enthusiasm always.
Samit Basu, for plotting patience and mischief.
Mukund Padmanabhan, for always asking, “How’s the book going?”
The Carlings, Jane and Paul, for open doors, open arms.
Gaurav Deka. For learning and alignment, for bringing ancestors to peace and life.
Suraj Singh, for loving the world and everything in it as much as I do.
Samuel T. Sawian, for new trails, new stories, for helping me understand song and stone.
Suneet Singh Puri, fellow wide-eyed wonderer.
Katie Waldegrave, for always saving me a room.
Justine Del Corte. There is no one else I would like to be stuck with in Rome during a pandemic.
Deepthi Talwar, for forgiveness over forgotten birthdays, and long friendship.
Malati Shah, for leaves, and poetry, and dusty old books that served so well.
Mum and Papa, and Dina. Aunty Lorraine, Aunty Melanie. The three Cs. All of you, cousins, aunts, uncles, best family.
Pankaj Khanna, so much storm and shelter. For being my most patient reader, and listener of book rants.
And finally, Kitty, whose loving indifference helps keep everything in perspective.