Acknowledgements
Writing this book has been an enormous challenge but has been nevertheless rewarding. Its publication marks the end of a project I have been continuously working on since 2019. In this long journey, I have encountered many people on both sides of the Atlantic who have assisted in one way or another whether they knew it or not. I cannot list them all here, but I am indebted to so many for helping me make this book a reality.
I must first and foremost thank Harry F. Dahms for his mentorship and friendship. This book and my career would never have been possible without your steadfast support, advice, and assistance over what has now been over a decade. It is no exaggeration to say that meeting you opened a world of opportunities, of which the opportunity to write this book is only one among many.
I am grateful to all the people I met in Germany, especially Ursula Mense-Petermann, Kim Anh Dang, Ulrich Jürgens, Martin Krzywdzinski, and Gert Schmidt. I am also indebted to my University of Tennessee colleagues Jon Shefner, Paul K. Gellert, Ian Down, Stephanie Bohon, and Kevin Heaslip. This would not have been possible without your feedback and support.
My family has also been an invaluable source of encouragement and assistance, Anthony and Mitzi Knowles, my in-laws Martin and Ransom Schwerzler, my siblings Aidan, Alec and August Knowles as well as my adoptive brother Garren Logsdon.
I also thank Courtney Farley for all her work as my graduate research assistant. Joel Crombez also deserves mention for his indirect assistance.
Finally, when I first met my life-partner Cole, I was still working on my first scholarship application for travel to Germany. You have been by my side every step of the way, and I am enormously thankful for all these years of companionship and love.