How much a product of its time is a piece of fiction, art, music, etc.? and how much a product of itself?  Today I’m thinkng of “Sword Blades and Poppy Seed,” Joanna Russ and Amy Lowell, and Aurore Dupin Dudevant; of Under the Poppy, finally done, now, finally complete.  The writing of this book, the research, the people I met, the friends I made – it’s been an amazing experience.  And in some ways, it’s just begun.

Thank you – you all know who you are – for all the conversation and encouragement and outrage and support along the way, thank you for being here with me.