Acknowledgments
When I embarked on my academic journey in the summer of 2009, still a master’s student in search of a research field, I would never have thought that, almost ten years later, it would blossom into the publication of this volume. Many are the people that have contributed to this result and, although a few will be acknowledged here, many others will not. Rest assured that is not the case in my heart.
First and foremost, my gratitude goes to Dr. Jesús Benito and Dr. Ana Manzanas for their unrelenting support before, during and beyond my doctoral years. Without their assistance, advice—both personal and professional—and countless hours of work and revision, neither this volume nor my own growth as a researcher would have been possible. It is through their expertise and guidance that this and other professional successes have been achieved.
During these years I have spent time and shared ideas with many colleagues, some of whom I am honored to now call friends. Thank you Enrique Cámara, Laura Filardo, Marta Gutiérrez, Rosalía Martínez, Sara Medina, Toñy Mezquita, Sonja Mujcinovic and Tamara Pérez for all the coffee breaks, help and the occasional shoulder to lean on. Part of this book is also yours. I am also indebted to the rest of the people at the English Department at the University of Valladolid. I never thought that those that I admired as teachers would become such great colleagues and excellent friends. Thank you as well to Susana Gómez, Ana Muñoz, Mª Carmen Alario and Ana Díez for their encouragement and aid in the course of the many challenges that recent years have thrown my way. You showed me great warmth and welcome when our paths crossed, without you I would have found adjusting to these, at times, adverse circumstances markedly more difficult.
I must also express my gratitude to those scholars and reputed professionals that have devoted part of their precious time and insight to help me further this project: Dr. Isabel Caldeira and Dr. Maria Jose Canelo from the University of Coimbra, Teresa Cid from the University of Lisboa, Dr. Stephen Thomson from the University of Reading, Dr. Cristina Alsina from the University of Barcelona and Dr. Viorica Patea from the University of Salamanca. Their help at various stages of this venture and their continued generosity has manifested in other interesting projects across countries and universities that have no doubt benefitted this one as well.
Heartfelt thanks to my family and friends for putting up with me during the worst moments of the last few years. Many a crisis would not have been solved without your encouragement and affection. If our past influences our present, I have been extremely lucky for your presence in my mine, and your help in my becoming who I am today. I look forward to continuing to evolve in the future with the best group of people anyone could wish for. As for my love and the most recent addition to this circle, may we continue to form a myriad of happy memories together!
I would like to acknowledge the assistance (and patience!) of Masja Horn, from Brill, during the editing process of this book, as well as the bibliographical sources and travelling expenses financed by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (micinn) for the research projects “Critical History of Ethnic American Literature” (references FFI2009-07450, FFI2012-31250 and FFI2015-64137-P), and the Junta de Castilla y León through the projects “Borders and Identities in American and Spanish Cultural Studies” (reference SA007A10-1) and “The Frontiers of Hospitality in the Cultural Studies of The United States and Europe” (reference SA342U14).