A Mellon Fellowship in the Humanities at Harvard University, followed by an appointment to History and Literature, provided the time and resources to complete this book. My thanks go to Robert Allison, Randall Burkett, Marcia Dambry, James Engell, Pat Hoy II, Steven Jaffe, Richard Hunt, Susan Hunt, Margo McCarty, Peter Mancall, Jan Thaddeus, Louise Townsend, and Thomas Underwood. I owe a special debt of gratitude to Aaron Sachs for showing me that teaching and friendship are inseparable. At Mather House, I got a second chance at undergraduate life thanks to the invitation of Jeffrey and Nancy Williamson. Words cannot express my appreciation to Jason Abrevaya, Scot Landry, Roger Landry, Tai Wong and the rest of the team that allowed me to share in the 1991–92 B-League Intramural Basketball Championship: Brett Allen, John DiGeorge, Phil Mahowald, Tae Song, Bryan Tawney, and Joe Vavpetic.
The idea for this volume grew out of discussion with Rachel Toor. This is my second project with Sheldon Meyer who continues to provide invaluable advice and encouragement. I am also grateful to Joellyn Ausanka, Leona Capeless, Karen Wolny, and the many other people at Oxford who have helped shape this book.
I have kept James Goodman, Douglas Greenberg, David Masur, John Phillips, Mark Richman, Bruce Rossky, and Thomas Slaughter largely clear of this work but in other ways I have asked a great deal of them. I am lucky to have such giving, long-lasting friendships. I am even luckier for the love of Jani, Benjamin, and Sophie Masur. Every day they teach me that “Outside/outside myself/there is a world.” Every day they help me realize my dreams and visions.
L.P.M.