That Old Black Magic

by Cathi Unsworth

  I found more about the blitzes on Birmingham and Portsmouth online, including Remembering BSA by Steve Hayward (https://vimeo.com/33916752, retrieved on 15.1.16); the Birmingham Express and Star, the Birmingham Mail, the Black Country Bugle, Warwick Library online, the BBC’s People’s War site, www.welcometoportsmouth.co.uk, Daily History blog and the Daily Telegraph. For history on the music halls of Birmingham, I consulted www.its-behind-you.com, the BBC People’s War website and www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/Birmingham.htm, through which I found the marvellous displaced Cockney, Bertram Adams of the Hippodrome. Anna’s folk repertoire comes from www.contemplator.com/england/ and Spooner’s favourite “Witches Reel”, together with its history and an explanation for the lyrics, I found on sarahannelawless.com. Information on Rauceby hospital came from www.lincstothepast.com and the Salvation Army in Birmingham during the war from www.birminghamcitadel.co.uk.

  Spooner’s bookish background was inspired by Leo Marks, and his genius memoir of the SOE, Between Silk and Cyanide (Harper Collins, 1998).

  I was further helped by the films Millions Like Us (Frank Launder & Sidney Gilliat, 1941), which featured the Spitfire factory, and Love on the Dole (John Baxter, 1941).

  For continuing to support my efforts with ceaseless good cheer, sound advice and patience, I am indebted to my wonderful friend and agent Caroline Montgomery and the extended Rupert Crew Addams family of Fenris Oswin and Doreen Montgomery. It is to my intense regret that Doreen didn’t get to see this book in its final form; her passing in November 2017 robbed the world of a wonderful, kind and nurturing soul and an inspiration whose memory I will always treasure.

  Further felicitations for all their support to Meg Davis at Ki Agency; my editor Cecily Gayford and Hannah Westland, Anna-Marie Fitzgerald, Niamh Murray and all at Serpent’s Tail; and to Pete Ayrton and John Williams. Thanks also to François Geurif, Jeanne Guyonne and all at Rivages; and Laura Meyer, Meredith Dees and all at the House of Anansi.

  For further insights and help into all things esoteric across many years I would like to thank Pete Woodhead, Joe McNally and Deirdre Rusling, Benedict Newbery, Richard and Sarah Newson, Emma Murphy, Paul A. Murphy, Ruth Bayer and Dave Knight, Chris Simmons, Raphael, Lucia and Leo Abraham, Damjana and Predrag Finci, Billy Chainsaw, The Shend, Ken and Rachel Hollings, James B. Hollands and Dr Paddy, Etienne Gilfillan, Mark Pilkington, Travis Elborough, Michael Dillon, Mike Jay and Louise Burton, Lydia Lunch, David Peace, Jake Arnott, Christopher Fowler, Martin Cloake, John King and Martin Knight of London Books, Jay Clifton, Syd Moore, Mari Mansfield, Julian Ibbitson and Gerry, Jan and Jos at the Pink Shop. I owe a similar debt to Marc Glendening, David Fogarty, Jon and Caroline Glover, David Rose, Virginia Ironside and all the regulars at the Sohemian Society; and to Roger K. Burton at the Horse Hospital for keeping on keeping on against all the odds.

  During the writing of this novel, I lost my job and with it the friends I worked with over thirteen years on five magazines. My deepest gratitude to Margaret Nicholls, for supporting my attempts at being a crime writer at the same time as being a sub-editor, Claudia Woodward, who got me through the door in the first place, Abby Taylor who helped so much with photo research right down to our last few days, and to my fellow members of the Miners’ Social, Past and Present: Debbie Voller, Duncan Bolt, Lynn Taylor, Anna Pattenden, Kerry Sutch, Gino Tambini, Claire Ricketts, Steve Trodd, Andrew Sloan, Allinda Hardwick, Kathy Young, Suzy Prince, Rosie Evans, Saffron Fradley, Caroline Box, Rob Sekula and Alix Buscovic. Thanks also to David Ayrton of the National Union of Journalists.

  Finally, all my love as always to Michael Meekin, for all his wisdom, patience, humour and ability to always find the way out of the woods.

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