My thanks to Richard Blair and Orwell’s literary agent, Bill Hamilton of A.M. Heath, for taking the time to read my book in uncorrected proof form. My gratitude also to Chris Feik and Julian Welch at Black Inc. for recognising the potential of my idea, guiding its development and ensuring it emerged into the world in the best possible shape. Your astonishing dedication to the editing task is warmly appreciated.
I have a number of other people to thank for their assistance and encouragement: Carolyn Fraser, for her expert advice on the printing of Nineteen Eighty-Four; the artist Cameron Hehir, for helping me visualise Orwell’s world; Robert Seatter, Head of History at the BBC, for allowing me to visit the site of Room 101; the staff of the Heritage Collection Reading Room at the State Library of Victoria, and the staff of Islington Libraries, for trusting me with their precious books and artefacts; Kim Williams, for pulling some strings on my behalf and for his generous and inspirational gift; Zoe McKenzie, for the wonderful use of her writer’s retreat at Sorrento; Matthew Pennycook MP and Vicar Chris Moody, for organising a tour of the crypt of St Alphege in Greenwich, Orwell’s air-raid shelter during the Blitz; Stephen Hepburn of Coventry Books and the team at the Avenue Bookstore, for their superb support of local authors; Chris Barrett and Angela Buckingham, for hosting me during my exploration of Orwell’s Paris; Tim Soutphommasane, for his interest in this project and his kind gift of an important text; and the principal, teachers and children of Albert Park College, for inviting me to speak on my research into Orwell at their 2016 literary festival.
Two close friends deserve special mention: Emily Millane, for her constant encouragement over half a dozen years, and Anthony Kitchener, who never once wavered in his enthusiasm for The Last Man in Europe, and never relented in his demands that I drop everything to finish it. Only the best friends continue to believe when all rational reasons for doing so have disappeared.
Finally, Toby, Teddy and Fiona, who for years have endured stoically my disappearances into my own Room 101 to write this book. Boys, I dedicated the last one to you, so this one is for your mother! So, Fiona – for you with love and appreciation.