Although an edited volume—so much a joint effort between editor and authors— is perhaps not the most appropriate place to list acknowledgements, it is a pity to waste the opportunity. Thanks go to Bill Bynum and Roy Porter, editors of the Wellcome series, for their encouragement of the project. Gill Davies of Routledge was especially helpful in the early stages of the book, Brad Scott in the latter. I would particularly like to acknowledge the contribution of Maggie Pelling, who has been, from the first idea for the book to its final execution, a source of help, good advice and friendship. I would also like to thank the other colleagues and friends who have helped and kept me going in many different ways while this volume was being prepared: Lara Marks, Rita Schepers, Mart van Lieburg, Frank Huisman, Netty Storm, Erma Hermans and Iona Dekking (and their families), Tini Wiersma, the girls at the Woezelhuis and my parents. The authors have all been fantastic, co-operative, supportive and encouraging, especially in the latter stages, as I raced to complete the manuscript before the birth of my second child. But the most important people to thank of course are my husband Sebastian, victim at all times of my balancing acts, and my children Daniel and David.

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