Acknowledgements
I should like to express my gratitude to the Alexander-von-Humboldt Foundation for permitting me to do my research at the University Tübingen under excellent conditions. I am grateful to the members of the Ludwig-Uhland Institute, under the direction of Professor Bausinger, for the help they gave me during my stay. This book is a project generated by international exchanges. I am likewise grateful to all who have contributed with information and advice to this work: Réka Albert, Guy Barbichon, Catherine Bertho Lavenir, Fabrizio Bigazzi, Gudleiv Bø, Dominique Durin, Michel Espagne, Daniel Fabre, Afranio Garcia, Stéphane Gerson, Mihaı̈ Gheorghiu, Tamás Hofer, Hans-Ulrich Jost, Guy Latry, Ileana Loewy, Daniel Maggetti, Francis Maguet, Vera Mark, Philippe Martel, Jérôme Meizoz, Svetla Moussakova, Peter Niedermüller, Ruben Oliven, Monique Pavillon, Louis Pinto, Bärbel Plötner, Robert Sayre, Danièle Schmidt, Anne-Lise Seipp, Anne Tricaud, Dany Trom, Michael Werner.
I wish to thank Michel Bouchaud for his critical reading of the manuscript and Florent Bozon for his material assistance. This book was completed in the tranquility of the Vieux-Palais d’Espalion, and I am grateful to the Association that works for the renaissance of this historical dwelling.