Acknowledgments
First, I would like to thank my faculty mentor, Prof. JoAnn DellaNeva. As an undergraduate at the University of Notre Dame, I took my first course on sixteenth-century French literature from Prof. DellaNeva, and it was thanks to her that my passion for it was ignited. She has continued to be a source of wisdom and insight, and her feedback on this manuscript and on many other projects has been essential.
Since this project began as my dissertation at Stanford University, I am indebted to my advisor, Prof. Cécile Alduy. Her honest critiques, as well as her support and encouragement, allowed it to be a success. I would also like to thank the other members of my reading committee, Profs. Jean-Marie Apostlidès and Dan Edelstein, whose input contributed to the evolution of my dissertation into book form.
At the Hesburgh Libraries at Notre Dame, I would like to thank Monica Moore and Julie Tanaka for their commitment to obtaining and maintaining resources on sixteenth-century France. At the Stanford Libraries, I would like to thank Sarah Sussman and the entire staff in the Department of Special Collections. To the countless librarians and archivists at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France who have provided me assistance over these many years of research and writing, I am extremely grateful.
Finally, I would like to thank most especially my two families. First, to my religious family, to my fellow priests, brothers, and sisters in Holy Cross, thank you for your example, guidance, friendship and prayers. Thank you particularly to the Holy Cross community in Paris who has so often welcomed me during my research visits. Thank you to the Corby Hall community at the University of Notre Dame, and especially, the superior, Rev. Austin I. Collins, C.S.C., for their encouragement and support. Second, to my parents, brothers and sisters-in-law, nephews, niece, and whole family, thank you for your example, guidance, friendship, prayers, and love.