I’m indebted to the Koret Foundation for the happy months I spent as writer-in-residence at Stanford University; my thanks especially to Steven Zipperstein for his vision, for his friendship, and for permission to sit in on history classes of my choosing. The MacDowell Colony and the Corporation of Yaddo provided me with precious time and space—opportunities I couldn’t have made use of without the loving support of Ashley Fuller and Gabrielle Asgarian. Laura Kolbe’s diligent assistance was essential as I conducted early research; and the Brandeis Women’s Studies Research Center and the Hadassah–Brandeis Institute provided encouragement, community, and all-important library access. I’m indebted to Shulamit Reinharz, to Debby Olins, and to the wonderful Hilda Poulson for her invaluable and skilled assistance.
I’m grateful beyond measure for the thoughtful input of some of the scholars and artists whose books were most helpful in my research. For conversations that helped me situate this story on the map of Shakespearean studies and attendant controversies, I’m indebted to Tina Packer and to James Shapiro. David S. Katz did me the prodigious favor of reading the manuscript for historical accuracy, as did Julia Lieberman; I could not have found better guides to the seventeenth-century communities depicted in this novel. Steven Nadler, whose own works about Spinoza were essential guides, was generous with his time and expertise. My thanks to Kristin Waters not only for her own writings about political theorists, but for the humor and grace with which she helped me find my way into seventeenth-century philosophy. And I cannot sufficiently thank Rebecca Newberger Goldstein for her illuminating writings on Spinoza; for her care in helping me ensure that the philosophical component of this story was accurate; and for demonstrating just how capaciously a philosopher engages with the world.
I could not have been more fortunate than to have Martha Collins, Tony Eprile, and Kim Garcia as wise friends and friends. During the years I worked on this book, many friends were generous with their time and help in ways large and small. I’m especially grateful to Howie Axelrod, Laurel Chiten, Sue -Fendrick, Kerry Folkman, Laurie Foos, Rochelle Friedman, Yaron and Tali Galai, Sarah Kilgallon, Lori Leif, Melanie Leitner, Sheryl Levy, Michael Lowenthal, Adrian Matejka, Lisa Mayer, Kiran Milunsky, Brian Morton, Lena Parvex, Heidi Schwartz, Susan Silverman, Sharon Stampfer, Douglas Stone, Ellen Wittlin, and Heather Zacker. For their humor, advice, and excellent company I thank Emily Franklin, Heidi Pitlor, Joanna Rakoff, and Jessica Shattuck. I’m grateful beyond what I can express here to Tova Mirvis for her thoughtful input on the manuscript, and for her extraordinary talent for intelligent friendship. And Carol Gilligan made a home for this book on every level; her insight and her ability to hear fathoms below the surface made all the difference, as did the hospitality she and Jim Gilligan provided.
Sarah Burnes, aided by Logan Garrison and the rest of the crew at Gernert Company, were everything a writer could hope for. Thank you, Sarah, for your faith in this book. And Lauren Wein was the dream editor for this novel; enormous thanks to her, to Pilar Garcia-Brown for all her good-humored help, and to the rest of the wonderful team at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
A special mention to Adam Rivkin, for whose keen eye and quiet sense of humor I’m grateful. And to Anna and Larry Kadish, Lilly Singer, Joan Sherman, to my siblings Debbie and Jan and Sam and Ali, and all the nephews and the whole glorious extended tangle of family near and far, my abundant thanks for your warmth and support during the years I spent working on this book.
Finally, my gratitude to Talia and Jacob, whose love and enthusiasm are everything.