The author wishes to thank the following: Valerio Vincenzo for the kind permission to reproduce his photograph “Germany-Poland border” copyright © 2012 Valerio Vincenzo; the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of the Sara Roby Foundation, for citing Edward Hopper’s painting, “Cape Cod Morning 1950”; Biblioteca Nazionale Braidense, Milan, (disc. C. 0388, sig. 1v–2r and XX.0188/01, sig. 5v-6r) and The Bodleian Library, University of Oxford, (Tanner 217 (5), sig. B1v–B2r, title page) for the respective use of various pictures.
In bringing this book to completion, I owe a great debt of gratitude to many people, above all the volume’s individual authors. I sincerely thank them for their commitment, cooperation, and admirable patience. I greatly appreciated their gracious responses to my various communications and suggestions. I am, of course, solely responsible for any errors or misconceptions which may have slipped through during the various stages of the editing process.
This volume started its life back in November 2016 on the occasion of a conference entitled: “Borders and Areas of Contact in Anglophone Cultures, Literatures and Art” that took place in Strasbourg. Despite an initial setback, our efforts thankfully caught the eyes of the editors of the “Spatial Practices” series at Brill Publishers who immediately expressed their interest. I am particularly grateful to Christa Stevens for her unfailing professional efficiency and support throughout. She guided me smoothly through the long publication process.
I also wish to warmly thank Jumanah Bayeh for reading earlier parts of the project and giving me the benefit of her great scholarly insight.
My thanks are due also to my research group search for the much-appreciated financial assistance and, in particular, to Monica Manolescu for her advice and suggestions.
Above all I wish to thank Kathrin, my wife, whose presence and much appreciated encouragements always inspired me and somehow made the work of editing that little bit easier. To her I remain indebted.