Lady Gregory's Toothbrush (12 page)

This book was written while I was a Fellow at the Center for
Scholars
and Writers at the New York Public Library. I am grateful to Peter Gay, the Director, and to Pamela Leo and Rachael Kafrissen for their kindness and support. I am also grateful to my colleagues at the
Center
for much fruitful discussion and a great deal of stimulation.

The Lady Gregory papers are housed in the Berg Collection at the New York Public Library. My work there was greatly facilitated by Steve Crook and Isaac Gewirtz, and indeed by all the librarians who manage to make the Berg such a uniquely hospitable institution. During my time there, Declan Kiely, who was working on the Yeats papers, offered me daily assistance in deciphering Lady Gregory's handwriting, which is notoriously difficult, as well as offering much advice on the general
context
and background. I am also grateful to Catriona Crowe, Fintan O'Toole, and my editor at Lilliput in Dublin, Brendan Barrington.