My lifelong love affair with librarians reached a fever pitch while working on this book. David’s enthusiasm for the world he inhabits is impressive and infectious. He and Zelman Kisilyuk led me from the rooftop through the treacherous stacks with great care. Isaac Gewirtz educated me about the Berg Collection; John Lundquist let me explore the Asian and Middle Eastern works; Shelly Smith and her colleagues in the Barbara Goldsmith Preservation Division helped me understand the critical nature of their work-and the incomparable gift bestowed on the NYPL by Barbara; and Alice Hudson, and her assistant chief Matthew Knutzen, thrilled me with their displays of the breathtaking and vulnerable riches of the Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division. I borrowed a bit of Alice ’s wisdom and spirit to enliven the plot.

Everyone should have a friend like Louise Grunwald. She’s smart, beautiful, funny, wise, and fiercely loyal to her many, many friends. Her quiet generosity never ceases to amaze me, and she exercised it this time to open the massive doors of the NYPL and place me into the hands of David Ferriero.

My team at Doubleday-led by Steve Rubin and Phyllis Grann-is the class of the field in the publishing world and includes Alison Rich, John Pitts, John Fontana, and Jackie Montalvo. To Esther Newberg and everyone at ICM-especially Kari Stuart-goes my gratitude for helping make my dream of a writer’s life come true.

Wherever you are, use your libraries and support them. And when you are in New York City, come visit the great New York Public Library and behold its treasures.