So many people have contributed to the making of this book, and worked so tirelessly on it, that their names should, by rights, be on its cover. At least I have the opportunity to show my gratitude here. Thank you to: Cath Summerhayes: agent extraordinaire. For being such fun to work with, and such brilliant counsel.
Dorian Karchmar, Annemarie Blumenhagen, Siobhan O’Neill, Ashley Fox, Jamie Carr: thank you for your passion, your diligence and your humour! I am so lucky to work with you all.
Kim Young: for seeing what this book could be, and for your incredible editorial investment in it.
Carina Guiterman: for taking the reins with such skill and dedication.
Jennifer Lambert: for loving this book!
The team at HarperCollins UK: Charlotte Brabbin, Ann Bissell, Sarah Benton, Heike Schüssler, Charlotte Dolan, Anne O’Brien and Rhian McKay.
The team at Little, Brown US: Zea Moscone, Reagan Arthur, Julianna Lee, Terry Adams and Jayne Yaffe Kemp.
The team at HarperCollins Canada: Kelsey Marshall and Natalie Meditsky.
David Mathieson, historian, author and Spanish Civil War expert: thank you for a phenomenally interesting tour of key sites in Madrid, and for your help with innumerable small and tricksy queries afterwards. (Readers interested in the Civil War, I urge you to visit his site: www.spanishsites.org, and book onto one of his tours, as well as reading his book: Frontline Madrid.) Gregorio Salcedo, or ‘Goyo’, thank you for another fascinating tour, this one to the remains of the trenches at Jarama just outside Madrid (and in blistering 35 degree heat!). (Goyo owns a museum in nearby Morata de Taju?a: the Mesón El Cid Museo Guerra Civil, with an incredibly rare collection of artefacts from the war, collected by Goyo himself. I highly recommend visiting, and leaving at least a couple of hours free to peruse.) Laura MacDougall and Simon Chadwick: for all your linguistic help. Thank you for your speediness, patience and fluency.
To my cheerleaders within the industry who have done so much for a new author. Special mention to: Mark Lucas, Richard Charkin, Fiona Foley Croft, Daniela Schlingmann, Chloe Healy, Holly Martin, Paddy Reed, Blair Wood, Georgina Moore, Sherise Hobbs, Clare Foss, Emily Kitchin, Anna Hogarty, Holly McCulloch, Clare Gatzen, Patricia Nichol, Sarah Tyson, Anne Williams, Julie Cohen, Emylia Hall, Katherine Webb, Erika Robuck, Miranda Beverley-Whittmore, Jennifer Chiaverini, Lucinda Riley, Mary Simses, Kerri Clarke.
To all the friends who have lent their support and gone out on a limb for me. I appreciate all you have done for me in reading my books and recommending them. Special mention must go to Vee Dix, Heather Gibbons and Toby Stevens for being the best friends a girl could ask for.
To my family (and almost-family!): Foleys, Allens, Crofts, Colleys, Osterweis, Martins.
To Liz and Pete: for your encouragement … and guerrilla marketing in the North East!
To Robbie and Kate: for all your support, and for inspiring me constantly.
To my husband: still, always, my first reader. Thank you for making life such fun!