| As always, I am hopelessly indebted to Anna Maria Drinnon, grandmother of the young man to whom this book is dedicated, critic, coeditor, and companion in all that matters, including the vision quest these pages represent. In this our fifth undertaking together, John F. Thornton provided encouragement from the outset, nudged me toward the final title, curbed my excesses and wanted to delete more, and again acted as an incisive and exemplary editor. Except for the uncurbed vagaries that remain, despite his best efforts, this work is the result of a truly cooperative effort. Judy Gilbert, another veteran of joint projects, patiently typed and retyped the manuscript and again proved herself a friend who cared enough to take pains. |
| In 196364 I held a Faculty Research Fellowship to study patterns of American violence. War, assassinations, and other studies, including a book of my own, intervened, compelled revision of my plans, and delayed fulfilling my obligations for the grant. However belatedly, I wish to express now my gratitude to the Social Science Research Council for financing the beginnings of this book. I am also grateful to the Trustees of Bucknell University for summer grants that helped in the research and writing. |
| Fellow historians, colleagues and students alike, have read or heard sections of the manuscript. I have already thanked most of them for their criticisms; in specific instances I also acknowledge their help elsewhere. It has been invaluable, especially for a work that presumes to carry its theme across the span of Anglo-American history. No doubt I have been guilty not of minor poaching but of major trespass. Specialists in the various fields and eras will not and should not excuse my inevitable blundersthe most I can hope is that they will point them out with the legendary forbearance of the community of scholars. Whether they forbear or not, I |
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