Acknowledgements
This book began life as an idea for a PhD thesis and its evolution over the years owes much to the interest and support shown by numerous people and institutions. Firstly, I would like to give immense and grateful thanks to my doctoral advisor, Prof. Hugo Lundhaug, whose patience, encouragement and constructive advice made possible the writing of this book. A vote of thanks is also due to Prof. Victor Ghica, my MA supervisor at Macquarie University, who placed me on the path towards further study. His subsequent commentary on my developing project did much to help improve the focus and content of the present work.
I would like to thank all my many friends and colleagues who worked on, and in association with, the ERC funded research project ‘New Contexts for Old Texts: Unorthodox Texts and Monastic Manuscript Culture in Fourth- and Fifth- Century Egypt (NEWCONT).’ I am grateful to Kristine Toft Rosland, Lance Jenott, Christian Bull and Lloyd Abercrombie, who provided many new insights and ideas, as well as cheer and good company in our shared office in Oslo. Much thanks should also go to the many people who have read and listened to my research papers along the way, and I would like to voice my appreciation of the work done by the research school ‘Authoritative Texts and Their Reception (ATTR)’ which has promoted the formation of so many excellent young scholars.
Sincere gratitude is owed to the anonymous reviewers, whose helpful suggestions and critical advice proved invaluable. I am also grateful for the positive reception and kindly support offered by the editor of the NHMS series, Dylan Burns. Many thanks also are given to Marjolein van Zuylen and Bart Nijsten of Brill Publishing for their support, expertise and efficiency. Lastly, but certainly not least, I would like to thank my long-suffering husband and my son who gave their unwavering support to my quixotic desire to embark on this book-writing odyssey.