David G. Troyansky - Aging in World History

Every book takes time. This one took longer than expected. Peter Stearns asked me several times to write it. Eventually, I agreed. Stephen Gosch, Joel Rosenthal, and Pat Thane reviewed the proposal and offered thoughtful and helpful suggestions that gave me the courage to overcome my residual resistance. The existing scholarship on the history of aging and the aged is very Western, and this book is part of a series in world history. It has required me to learn about places that are far from my usual scholarly concerns. For that Im grateful. Even though I am now turning back to a topic in French history, my approach will forever be more global. The delay was also the result of having taken on administrative responsibilities for longer than expected. Happily, a sabbatical from Brooklyn College allowed me to finish. I thank Chairperson Chris Ebert, Provost Bill Tramontano, fellow Francophone scholar President Karen Gould, and the department staff, Arline Neftleberg, Anne Ciarlo, and Lorraine Greenfield. Thanks to the Tow Professorship for important financial assistance. Dean Kimberley Phillips and I shared thoughts on balancing scholarship and administration (and much else), and Interim Dean Matthew Moore provided support and friendship over dinners and chamber music. I wouldnt have gotten through all that administrative work if not for the guidance of fellow chairs, who, like my inspiring students, really are too numerous to name. Kyle Francis, who has launched his own career as a historian, provided bibliographical assistance at the Graduate Center of CUNY. He and current student Megan Brown provided help at an important time. At the last minute, Helen Georgas of the Brooklyn College Library made a crucial purchase and old friend and colleague Robert Aldrich sent news of a new publication before boarding a plane in Bangkok. The editorial team at Routledge was very kind about adjusting the schedule of delivery. Thanks to Kimberly Guinta and her predecessors. When I finally submitted a draft, Peter Stearns took about a day to send suggestions for revision. They were important, and they were feasible, as were the recommendations on the next draft. We should all have such editors.