Jane Fletcher Geniesse - Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark

My extended adventure at the side of Freya Stark has left me indebted to many talented and generous people on both sides of the Atlantic. First, there would have been no book had my dear friend and editor, Kate Medina of Random House, not encouraged me to write it, endured my slow start, and finally put me in the hands of her wonderful colleagues: Olga Sehamwhose sensitive commentary was invaluablethe legendary Sam Vaughan, the indispensable and gracious Lee Boudreaux, and Barbara Bachman, Robbin Schiff, Deborah Foley, Benjamin Dreyer, Susan Brown, and all the others who made the experience, and the book, beautiful. I am deeply grateful to them all.

A corps of unmatchable friends helped me in countless ways: Wren Wirth, Wendy Benchley, Madge Huntington, and Edme Firth read the manuscript, and Edme translated all of Antonin Besses letters, a heroic task done with nuance and flair. Dr. Lois de Menil translated and encouraged, while Noelle del Drago undertook an interview for me in Switzerland. When Henry Catto was our ambassador to the Court of St. James, he and Jessica threw a grand party at Winfield House that broke the ice among Freyas friends. The invitation from Dr. Helena Lewis to speak at Harvard was a grand stimulus, while Alix and Tom Devine, and Susan and Peter Nitze, on a variety of research missions abroad, provided lively company. Forde Medina encouraged with pesky questions; at a shaky moment, Tim Wirth sent flowers; and with exquisite timing, Peter Benchley intervened to see that the book title was right. Dr. Betty Ann Ottinger, Dr. Arnold Cooper, and Dr. Judith Nowack provided psychological insight into Freyas character. My thanks also to Ann Banks at the Fishers Island Library and to the librarians at the Humanities Research Center, University of Texas, Austin, the Library of Congress, and especially the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C., where Betsy Folkins pointed the way to many good sources, and even after relocating to Iowa gave the manuscript a careful read, as did Nameer Jawdat.

In Paris, Antonin B. Besse was consistently helpful and supportive. In London, my husband and I found a true friend in Barclay Larsson, whose family has long been entwined with the Starks. Together with her husband, Theo, and son, James, the Larssons generosity has been boundless. I also discovered how loyal the Murrays of the John Murray publishing family are to Freyas memory. Jock and Diana let me interview them a number of times, and John and Virginia, in addition to patiently responding to numerous inquiries and requests, gave me their generous permission to quote Freyas own inimitable words from works published and unpublished. They were seconded by Michael Russell, who published eight volumes of Freyas letters, and the writer Caroline Moorehead, who edited them after her mothers death. It has been a pleasure to know her and benefit from her memories and those of her brother John, whose parents, Alan and Lucy, were such close friends to Freya. I loved every Harrods take-out lunch given me by E. C. Hodgkin, as well as his wry wisdom. Pamela Cooper and her son the Honorable Malise Ruthven were both helpful and delightful to know and contributed many insights, as did Xandra Hardie; Peggy Drower Hackforth-Jones; the Viscount Norwich; his daughter the Honorable Artemis Cooper and son-in-law Anthony Beevor; Hermione, the Countess of Ranfurly; Veronica Bamfield; Doreen Ingrams and her daughter Leila; Sir Isaiah Berlin; Ambassador Boris Bianchieri; Lord Sherfield; the Marchioness of Cholmondeley; Countessa Anna Maria Cicogna; Nigel Clive; Hugh Leach; Richard and Bridget Sawers, who invited me to see Ford Park; and Sarah Bowen of the BBC, who shared her thoughts and sent her radio program on Freya. Special thanks to Colin Luke, whose documentary films on Freyas last adventures are hilarious and touching, and to Molly Izzard, Freyas English biographer, who both heaped documents on me and treated me to a fascinating afternoon at her lovely house in Tunbridge Wells.

Of Americans who remembered Freya, I am grateful for the time and memories shared by John Beach, Evelyn Lambert, H. C. Bailey, Jennifer Hamilton, John Guest, and Helene Sullivan Walker, for whom Asolo stirred such poignant memories.

Many others here and in Europe shared their memories and/or gave help: Susan Mary Alsop, George and Lucy Adams, Sir Philip and Lady Adams, Mark Heathcote Amory, Rosie Rodd Baldwin, Giorgio Bastianon, Janet and Henry Berens, Betsy Birch, Franco Boido, Jane Boulanger, Jac Chambliss, Mariela Camara, Zia Chishti, Harold Costello, Missy Crisp, Contessa Mariuccia deLord, Jacqueline de Chollet, Joy de Menil, Contessa Laura Loridon, Elizabeth Drury, the Dowager Lady Egremont, Emma Menegon, the Duke of Grafton, Patrick Leigh Fermor, Lady Henrietta Fitzroy, Lord Gibson, Sir Martin Gilliat, Charles Harding, Father Donald Harris, Derek Hill, Lady Marie Noelle Kelly, Nadia Lavalle, Lord Boyd of Merton and Lady Boyd, Sir Mark Lennox-Boyd, Osyth Leason, Gertrude Legendre, Professor Seton Lloyd, Felicity Long-more, Alexander Maitland, Jan Morris, Joanna and Freydys Murray, Ned OGorman, Princess Osman-Oghlu, R. G. Penson, Leslie Perowne, Caroli Piaser, Alan Punchard, Meaghan Rady, Sir Frank and Lady Roberts, Lady Joan Robertson, Jim and Pam Rose, Sir Steven Runciman, Sheridan Russell, Sir Michael and Damaris Stewart, Lucretia Stewart, Wilfrid Thesinger, Colin Thubron, Thor and Virginia Thors, Mario Valmarano, John and Susanna Vernon, Richard Waller, Lavinia Wallop, Lady Teresa Waugh, Lavender Goddard-Wilson, Francis Witts, Sir Paul and Lady Wright, and the many, many others who buoyed my spirits over the long haul.