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Acknowledgments The finished work you hold in your hands is an unapologetic example of “big-picture” scholarship. I’ll be the first to admit that there is a great deal more lumping than splitting going on here. In my effort to try to present an interpretive overview of the place of slavery in the English-speaking world during roughly 100 years of history—and to do so in a concise and readable fashion—I have had to leave some things out, move quickly where I would have preferred to linger, and generalize at the expense of the exceptions to the rule. My cutting-room floor is a mountainous testament to just how much more there is to say about this subject. As a result, I am sure that I’ve gotten some things wrong. I fully expect, and indeed hope, that my work will prompt others to elaborate on and even revise some of the lines of inquiry that I have only sketched here. Even so, I am equally confident that there is quite a lot in this book that makes perfect sense. And how could it be otherwise? For one, more scholars than I can count have a stake in all of this. I have relied heavily in places on the keen insights and amazingly thorough research of the individuals whose names pepper the notes. To them all, most of whom I’ve never met, I offer my heartfelt gratitude for their inspirational scholarship (and sincerest apologies if I have not done things well enough). Even more, though, I am confident about this work because of the many people I do know who have read and commented on it either in its totality or in the bits and pieces that appeared in draft form, as conference papers, or in scholarly articles (real and imagined). First, I have to acknowledge Ron Hoffman , who bears some responsibility for my pursuing this line of inquiry and whose support for me and my research has been unwavering. I would not be here without him (although this may not be precisely the book he would have had me write) and will be forever thankful for all he has done for me. For offering me some of their time and considerable insights (and with apologies to those I may have forgotten to include), I would also especially like to thank Ira Berlin, Christopher L. Brown, Trevor Burnard, Dale Hoak, James 314 Acknowledgments Horn, Michael Jarvis, Kris Lane, and Philip D. Morgan. All have served, at one time or another, as friends, colleagues, model scholars, and (lucky for me) willing readers of my work. Most recently, Peter Mancall offered keen criticism that helped me sharpen my argument and order my thoughts. Others who have had a finger in this pie (whether they realize it or not) include John Coombs, David Brion Davis, David Eltis, Alison Games, Christopher Grasso, Rhys Isaac, Karen Ordahl Kupperman, Sally Mason, Brett Rushforth, John Wood Sweet, Fredrika Teute, Alden and Virginia Mason Vaughan, and Walt Woodward. My friends and colleagues at Oberlin College—particularly Gary Kornblith and Carol Lasser—and Davidson College—not least Jonathan Berkey, Keyne Cheshire, Vivien Dietz, Earl Edmondson, Randy Ingram , Sally McMillen, Jane Mangan, Trish Tilburg, and Alan Michael Parker—have aided this project considerably with perfect measures of encouragement and patience. My students, on more than a few occasions over the years, have served as unwitting guinea pigs for my ideas and thoughtful readers of chapter drafts in seminar. I am indebted to them all. The staff of the E. H. Little Library at Davidson College, especially Susanna Boyleston and Joe Gutekanst, have provided more assistance to me than I’m sure they recognize. Last, but not at all least, I need to thank the University of Pennsylvania Press and, especially, Robert Lockhart. This book has evolved quite a bit since we started working together seven or eight years ago. I will never be able to thank Bob enough for his ability to be both critical and supportive of this project and for exercising more patience with me than any editor should ever be expected to demonstrate. I can’t imagine a better shepherd. I have benefited greatly from the financial support and generosity of a number of institutions, including Davidson College (where Clark Ross and Verna Case have been particularly helpful), the Henry E. Huntington Library , the Folger Shakespeare Library, and the John Carter Brown Library. Andy Gosling stepped in at the last minute and generously...

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