I am grateful to many people for their help with this book.
In Ohio: Gwen Mayer, Hudson’s most passionate archivist, and Sue Flechner, for her generous hospitality. I am sorry that Hudson did not figure larger; however, it did provide me with a name and profession: Belle Mills the milliner, for which I owe Hudson a great debt. Tim Simonson on Wellington history; Bob Gordon on farming; and a special thank-you to Maddie Shetler for twice showing me around her family farm. Various unsung helpers at the Oberlin Heritage Center and Oberlin College Archives. Finally, my biggest thanks are to Kathie Linehan and Glenn Loafmann for many and varied services on the ground (and, with Glenn, up in the air!), from sending maps to finding answers to big and small questions, connecting me with knowledgeable people, flying me over the landscape of the novel, putting me up and up with me, and taking such an active interest in my Ohio research that they became a part of the process itself. Oberlin is a special place, and Kathie and Glenn are head of the class of its finest inhabitants.
Hats: Rose Cory and her millinery class in Woolwich, and Shelley Zetuni for introducing me; Oriole Cullen at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
Quilts: Of course I had to learn to make them myself. Thanks to Fiona Fletcher for teaching me the basics; and to the Flying Geese quilting group in north London, who have been so helpful and supportive through every step of making my first quilt. May your stitches always be even.
Quakers: Christopher Densmore at Swarthmore College for answering my varied queries; Hampstead Meeting for shared hours of waiting in expectation.
I would like to thank John Wieland for buying the privilege of having a wood named after him, in an auction to raise funds for the Woodland Trust, a UK charity devoted to woodland conservation.
For wordsmithery, thanks to Richenda Todd and Rick Ball.
Finally, thanks as ever to my handholders: Clare Ferraro and Denise Roy at Dutton, Katie Espiner at HarperCollins, Jonny Geller at Curtis Brown and Deborah Schneider at Gelfman Schneider.
About the Author
Tracy Chevalier is the New York Times bestselling author of six previous novels, including Girl with a Pearl Earring, which has been translated into thirty-nine languages and made into an Oscar-nominated film. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., she lives in London with her husband and son.
ALSO BY TRACY CHEVALIER
The Virgin Blue
Girl with a Pearl Earring
Falling Angels
The Lady and the Unicorn
Burning Bright
Remarkable Creatures
The Last Runaway Page 27