The Reservoir
Page 33
Archivist and Southern gentleman Minor Weisiger at the Library of Virginia was extremely helpful and gracious; he is, coincidentally, the great-great-grandson of one of the lead reporters on the Cluverius case. In general, the Library of Virginia was essential; particular thanks goes to map specialist Cassandra Farrell. I received good advice from professor W. Hamilton Bryson, expert on Virginia legal history; King William County historian Steve Colvin; professor James A. Bostwick; and Richmond Circuit Court Assistant Chief Deputy Supervisor Ed Jewett. I’m also deeply indebted to Alderman Library and the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections at the University of Virginia.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I’m unutterably grateful for the extraordinary talents of editor Katie Henderson, who pulled me across the finish line and made this a much better book; the keen insights of Judith Gurewich; and the generosity of Paul Kozlowski, Sarah Reidy, Marjorie De-Witt, Yvonne E. Cárdenas, and the rest of the Other Press staff. I bow as well to Alanna Ramirez and Ellen Levine for their encouragement and unfailing support. For reading, listening, locating graves, and showing me what a meat cleaver can do, thanks also to Chris Tilghman, Caroline Preston, Henry Wiencek, Donna Lucey, Tom Whitehead, Sue Hart, Steve Keach, and Ricky Weeks. Finally, thanks to my wife, Margo Browning, who has been with this novel every step of the way—helping me see where to go, again and again.
JOHN MILLIKEN THOMPSON is the author of America’s Historic Trails and Wildlands of the Upper South, and coauthor of the National Geographic Almanac of American History. His articles have appeared in Smithsonian, The Washington Post, Islands, and other publications, and his short stories have been published in Louisiana Literature, South Dakota Review, and many other literary journals. He has lived in the South all his life. This is his first novel.