Main Street and Empire: The Fictional Small Town in the Age of Globalization

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments Thinking and writing are social processes, and I’ve been blessed to have so much individual and institutional support over the many years this project has developed. First and foremost, I want to thank Scott Shershow for his intellectual rigor, unlimited patience, and guiding hand. Colin Milburn, Richè Richardson, and Evan Watkins believed in this project from the onset and provided invaluable comments on multiple drafts and revisions. A special thank you to Steven Blevins, Mindi McMann , and Vanita Reddy for the endless conversations, suggestions, and encouragement. The shape of this project and the critical issues broached are indebted to the Futures of American Studies Institute at Dartmouth College and, in particular, to the genius and generosity of Donald Pease. Thank you to everyone at Rutgers University Press. May all writers and scholars be so fortunate to work with a press that cares so much about the author, about the work, and about intellectual integrity. I want to especially thank my editor, Katie Keeran, who supported this project unconditionally and was instrumental in making it sharper and stronger at every turn. A special thank you to Tim Roberts for all of his excellent editorial and intellectual work. Judith Hoover, my fantastic copy editor , provided innumerable suggestions that made this study richer in style and substance. The insights, passion, organization, and precision of Mary Newberry, my indexer, are peerless. Thank you to all the anonymous readers for providing invaluable, detailed, and extensive feedback that pushed my thinking even more. Ariel Weygandt, thank you for formatting this document and for everything else. xii / acknowledgments I am grateful for my current institutional home at Northeastern Illinois University and, in particular, to the dynamic, progressive English Department; daily I am enriched by my students and my colleagues. This project progressed due to the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual community provided by Michael Armato, Tim Barnett, Debra Bruce, Marcia Buell, Vicki Byard, Chielozono Eze, Laurie Fuller, Emily Garcia, Brad Greenburg, Tom Hoberg, Julie Kim, David Leaman, Shahrzad Mahootian , Wamucii Njogu, Kris Over, Tim Scherman, Chris Schroeder, Toni Scott, Mary Thill, Eli Toynton, and Darlene Queen. In particular I want to thank Tim Libretti for being the best chair and the best mentor; every day he inspires me with his towering intellect, unwavering dedication, utopian imagination, and hospitable heart. A special thank you to my 2008 graduate class on the American small town and globalization that helped me clarify my project and realize its possible futures: Negin Ahmadi, Jeff Barry, Lisa Denapoli, Jacaro Jones, Tracy Kellam, Justin Kramer, Angela Lamondi, and Kathleen Rosario. This project was enriched by the conversations, energy, and passion of the best undergraduates anywhere: Adele Benteler, Rachel Brown, Cassandra Buchholz, Kristina Garcia, Lakeesha Harris, Patricia Dalinis, Aaron Leiva, Sherilyn Maddex, Brian Patrick, Kenn Sackett, John Valles, Janean Watkins, and so many more. To my family—all the Polls, Rushes, Kesselmans, Martons, Wassermans , Slutzkys, Karters, and Teplitskys—you provide a world of unending love and laughter. Mom, Dad, Reid, Marissa, Bubbie, and Zaddie: thank you for pushing me to follow my dreams, for encouraging me at every step of the way, for believing in me when I didn’t always believe in myself, and for loving me so unconditionally that I feel blessed every day. The only reason I can disappear into libraries for long stretches of time is because I know each of you is always on the other side. Grandma and Grandpa, I know you’re there too. And finally, none of this would be possible without my best friend (who also happens to be my wife). Ally, thank you for taking this journey with me and for enabling this journey to happen. Every day, you teach me how to listen more attentively, to imagine more boldly, to believe more faithfully, to love more recklessly, to care more profoundly, and to always, always laugh. Without you, nothing. Main Street and Empire ...