Acknowledgments
Significant portions of this novel were written at Ledig House International Writers Residency and Yaddo, special places to which I offer the deepest thanks.
I owe a great debt to my agent, Bonnie Nadell, for her tenacity and tough love and for being the M.F.A. program I never had. Likewise, enormous thanks are due to my editor at Hogarth, Alexis Washam, for her superb instincts and brilliant editorial guidance.
Special gratitude to the early readers of this book, each of whom provided invaluable support and criticism: Andrea Berloff, Drew Filus, Ray Forsythe, Michael Gurton, Nova Halliwell, Philip Kang, Nic Kelman, Paul LaFarge, Jason Lee, Richard Nash, Benjamin Strong, and Luke Wilcox.
The real Arthur Marblestone for generously allowing me to use his wonderful and fiction-worthy name.
Robert Sawyer for deepest friendship, insight, and “there are exits, but there are no escapes.”
All of my love to Marcia, Robert, and Jennifer Conn.
To Kay Suzanne Conn, the light that illuminated the writing of this book.
And to Alyth Darby Conn, who lights the way forward.
O, Africa! Page 36