Acknowledgements

Creating a book like this is a mammoth task that requires assistance and guidance from a number of very important people, beginning with – and not just for her help during the often hellish, stress-inducing production of Lists of Note, but for her constant support in general – my wife, Karina, someone whose patience has been tested to its fullest since I began writing books but who has somehow managed to stay calm throughout. Special mention must also go to Cathy Hurren, my superhuman production manager, without whom this book literally would have taken a decade to reach the (wrong) printers, no doubt filled to the brim with factual errors, spelling mistakes, and no artwork. Untold thanks also go to the following wonderful people: permissions wizard Fred Courtright; John Mitchinson, Rachael Kerr, Dan Kieran, Isobel Frankish, Caitlin Harvey, Charlie Gleason, Emily Bryce-Perkins, Tim Mahar, Justin Pollard, Xander Cansell, and everyone else at the mighty Unbound; the incomparable Jamie Byng and his brilliant team at Canongate; Natalie Bradbury, who designed this beautiful book, and everyone else at Here Design including Julie Martin and Caz Hildebrand; every single archivist I have had the pleasure of meeting, online and off, all of whom have been more patient than I thought humanly possible; the legend that is Rob ‘Scabbs’ Gibbons; and, as always, my friends and family.

Finally, a massive, heartfelt thank you to two vitally important sets of people: first, all those who had a hand in writing the lists of note contained in this book; and second, each and every person who made this book a reality by pledging their support via Unbound. I will be eternally grateful.