Wylding Hall

Author’s Note & Acknowledgments

There is a remarkable wealth of documentary material, written, recorded and filmed, online and in print, relating to the British Folk Revival, and I drew on much of it as research for this novel. I am particularly indebted to Rob Young’s Electric Eden: Unearthing Britain’s Visionary Music, an invaluable resource and the ideal starting point for anyone wishing to learn more.

While inspired in part by numerous real-life musicians and songwriters, the members of Windhollow Faire are all fictional, as is Wylding Hall itself.

My special thanks to:

My agent, Martha Millard, sole proprietor of the known world’s finest literary agency.

Betsy Mitchell of Open Road Media and Pete Crowther of PS Publishing, for easing this story into the world.

Sharyn November, who tirelessly read, reread, and commented on earlier versions of this book.

The staff at the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library at Cecil Sharp House, London, for their assistance.

The Atlantic Center for the Arts, Florida, for providing a residency during which an earlier version of this novel was written.

Farah Mendelsohn, for her insight and suggestions.

Bob Olson, for sharing his musical knowledge and enthusiasm, as well as stellar stereo equipment.

Greer Gilman, for her observations on the Watersons, especially Lal & Mike Waterson’s lost classic Bright Phoebus.

Callie Hand, for her suggestions and encouragement.

Most of all, my love and gratitude to John Clute.