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InthecourseofcompletingthisworkIwasfortunate,touseVladimirPropp’s terminology, to meet with more helpers than adversaries. My research was funded with an FWO scholarship, and I am grateful for their belief in my research project and for their financial support. I am most indebted to Benjamin Biebuyck, Geert Lernout, and Katrien Vloeberghs for their elaborate comments on my work and for their support over many years. Various people have offered pieces of advice in the course of my research, and their feedback and encouragement have been invaluable. They include, in alphabetical order, Sandra Beckett, Ruth Bottigheimer, Majo De Saedeleer, Toin Duijx, Donald Haase, Ute Heidmann, Gillian Lathey, Vivian Liska, Harlinda Lox, David Rudd, Lisa Sainsbury, Karen Sands O’Connor, Claudia Soeffner,JanVanCoillie,DirkVanHulle,LiesWesseling,ChristineWilkieStibbs , and Jack Zipes. I wish to thank three scholars in particular: Kimberley Reynolds, Maria Nikolajeva, and Helma van Lierop-Debrauwer. I believe that they help to secure the future of children’s literature studies, not only through the quality of their work but also through the unrelenting support that they give to young scholars. I feel grateful to have been, on several occasions, the beneficiary of their generous help. Much appreciated practical assistance and moral support were granted to me by Laura Atkins, Anke Brouwers, Eva Devos, Lien Fret, and Katrien Jacobs. Finally, I thank my parents, my in-laws, and my dearest Wouter, Aurelie, and Sebastiaan for granting me the chance to write this book, and for the joy, love, and distraction that they gave me when it was completed. Acknowledgments This page intentionally left blank ...

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