Spy Who Jumped Off the Screen : A Novel (9781101565766) (45 page)

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Although the character of Ty Hunter appeared almost fully formed in my mind, his history and personality grew—and, I hope, became deeper and more intriguing—over time. So, too, did the particular nature of this, his first recorded adventure, not only alter but elaborate itself, often in unexpected ways (even by me), as I set it down.

In the process, many friends and experts gave advice and encouragement of inestimable value. First among these is my longtime agent, Peter Lampack, without whose faith, patience and keen editorial insight this book would surely not have found its way to readers. Peter was consistently supported in his efforts by his amiable and astute son, Andrew, as well as by the high standards of his unfailingly good-humored associates Rema Dilanyan and Christie Russell.

At Viking I have benefited beyond measure from Kathryn Court's innate, penetrating, uniquely subtle sense of story and human behavior and from Allison Lorentzen's invariably fresh, intelligent and rigorous attention to every line of the manuscript. They have made the editorial process a pleasure, as has their colleague Tara Singh.

Beyond a professional context, I am, of course, inexpressibly grateful to President Clinton—not only for reading the novel in an early draft and the skill with which he wielded a literary scalpel that decidedly sharpened the story's narrative, dialogue, focus and tension, but for his gracious and evocative introduction.

For reading and commenting upon
The Spy Who Jumped Off the Screen
at various stages of its development or for particular knowledge that they were generous enough to share and that has enriched the text, I am indebted to: Philip Bobbitt, Tom Campbell, Bill Cassidy, Susan Eisenhower, James and Arabella Gaggero, Robert Gottlieb, Geordie Greig, Giuseppe Guillot, David Hutcheon, Jamie Kerr, Riccardo Lanza, William and Sandra Lobkowicz, Ileen Maisel, Jim Moore, Flavio Murarotto, Diana Patterson, George Porchester, Marykay Powell, John and Jane Prenn, Giovanni Revedin, Sean Routt, John Saumarez Smith, Steve Scheffer, Alex Schemmer, Michael Sheehan, Andrew Solomon, Michael Sudmeier, David Walton, Alice West and Hope Winthrop.

As every lucky writer knows, particularly during a sustained period of work, the confidence and support of friends—even, sometimes, of acquaintances—can be crucial buoys in a sea of vicissitudes. A list of all those who kindly offered such to me, often at pivotal moments, would be far too long to publish here. But they know who they are and so do I. My appreciation to them is boundless and will be felt as long as I feel anything.

 

Thomas Caplan

British Embassy

Paris

September 5, 2011