Many thanks to Jeffrey Robbins, Máire Murphy, Ann Merchant, Dick Morris, and Robin Pinnel at the Joseph Henry Press and Grant McIntyre at John Murray for careful editing and excellent suggestions, which have much improved the manuscript. Special thanks to my agents Peter Robinson and Jill Grinberg, whose tireless support has been an inspiration even in the darkest hours.
I have benefited from discussions with many colleagues in Oxford and beyond: thanks to Hugh Jenkyns, John O’Sullivan, and Steve Simpson, and particularly Mike Durkin, Tony Watts, Brent Dalrymple and Marcia McNutt who read the manuscript and made comments. Any omissions or errors of course remain my own. The librarians at various Oxford libraries have, as always, been wonderful, so thank you Stella Brecknell, Theo Dunnet, John Hillsdon, Isabel McMann, Helen Morgans-Bell, Karen Smith, and Rebecca Sparkes. Moral support has, as always, been supplied by many good friends at the Frewen Club, in particular Dennis and Christine Armstrong, Brian Boyt, Tom Duggan, Colin Holmes, and Peter Kent. Thanks also to other friends: Alan Edwards, Marvina Houghton, Peter James, Robert McKenna, Jon and Jo Oldham, and Sonia Newton-Clare.
Thanks to the Society of Authors who supported the writing of this book with a grant from the Kathleen Blundell fund and to Julie, Jessica, and Susannah who put up with Dad in the backroom yet again.