A Thousand Ships(86)
This book was a man-eater and there were times I thought it would swallow me whole. So thanks go out to everyone who kept me afloat. Peter Straus is both my brilliant agent and the most thoughtful and sophisticated reader you could hope to find. I know how lucky I am. My editor at Pan Mac, Maria Rejt, is a marvel. She and Josie Humber kept me honest and rarely allowed, ‘because it’s in a fragment of Quintus Smyrnaeus,’ as an answer. Impossible not to agree with them. Sam Sharman shepherded the book through its latter stages with a calm which I think I probably used to have before I torched it in the ruins of Troy. Tons of other wonderful people at Pan Mac contributed to this: not least Kate Green, who tricks me into doing talks and shows by asking me how my running is going. Don’t be fooled by her innocent face.
Book-writing could easily be at war with my broadcasting work. It isn’t, because my colleagues at the BBC are amazing. Mary Ward-Lowery, James Cook: thank you for making Natalie Haynes Stands Up for the Classics with me during this book. I couldn’t have done the radio series without you, and the book would be less if I weren’t performing. I guess I might sleep better, but that can wait. Huge thanks also to James Runcie and Gwyneth Williams for letting us keep making the shows.
Early readers are one of the most precious things writers can have. Thank you to Sarah Churchwell, as always, for being an impossibly acute reader, and for making time when she has none. And thanks to Robert Douglas-Fairhurst who is the person on my mind when people ask who my ideal reader is. What am I saying? He’s always on my mind. Digby Lidstone read the first half and told me to take out 90 per cent of the commas, so you can thank him for that. Elena Richards went through the final draft with a fine-tooth comb, and Matilda McMorrow did the same at proof stage. If either of them decides on a publishing career, please take this as the short-form of a glowing reference and apply to me for the longer version.
Huge numbers of people kept me on track while I was writing. You all have my thanks and love, especially: Helen Bagnall, for being a miracle of positive energy in my life; I’m so lucky to know her. Damian Barr for always knowing the right time to call and the right thing to say. David Benedict for taking me out when I needed it. Philippa Perry and her friend Julianne for their continued perceptiveness and kindness. Kara Manley for being here since the beginning. Michelle Flower for moral support in animal and human form. Julian Barnes for offering the best advice (in the most patient voice) when I was climbing the walls. Marcus Bell for sending me Hamilton videos every day for a month to keep my spirits up. Adam Rutherford for offering unrivalled advice on the flora and fauna of the Troad Peninsula in the Bronze Age. Christian Hill for (always and still) being the voice of reason in my shifting world.
Most of all I want to thank Dan Mersh for everything, always. And, of course, my family: my mum, my dad, Chris, Gem and Kez. You can all have my owl.