I am particularly grateful to Janneke Gerards for her unwavering support during all the dif erent phases of work on this project. For critical readings and stimulating conversations along the way, I thank Maurice Adams, Eduard Bomhof , Antoine Buyse, Neil Duxbury, Jan Kom ? rek, Peter Kugel, Susan Marks, Kai M ? ller, Jo Murkens, Andrew Lang, Mitchel Lasser, Anne Meuwese, Ralf Michaels, Marthias Reimann, Anne-Isabelle Richard, Helen Reece, Annelise Riles, Felix Ronkes Agerbeek, Yaniv Roznai, Mathias Siems, Emmanuel Voyiakis, Catherine Valcke, Gr é goire Webber, Michael Wilkinson, Lorenzo Zucca and Peer Zumbansen. Jan Kleinheisterkamp provided invaluable encouragement and advice. h e generosity of these colleagues and friends is not to be confused with any responsibility for what follows. Special thanks are due to Frederick Schauer, Martijn Polak and Janneke Gerards for commenting on the doctoral manuscript on which this book is based. Emma and Matthias have been quiet – and not so quiet – sources of inspiration and playful distraction. Andrea’s patience and support would merit mention on every page. h is book is dedicated to her, s l ? skou .