Over the years during which this book took shape, many people have aided me with their writings, discussions, advice, assistance, and consolation. Those whose writings have contributed will find their names in the bibliography. I am grateful especially to colleagues and critics Sharon Carstens, Charles Coppel, Myra Sidharta, Claudine Salmon, Thee Kian Wee, Mona Lohanda, Ming Govaars- Tjia, Yuan Bingling, and Mély G. Tan; and in Pontianak, among others, Tangdililing, Hengky, Buyung Rivai and Eta, Hendry Jurnawan, and Melanie Susanto, even where we may differ.
Special thanks are due for material and intellectual help to Emeritus Prof. Bernhard Dahm, former head of Southeast Asia Studies, University of Passau, who acted as sponsor for the project in 1995-1997, during which time I benefited from a grant from the German Research Society (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft). Without that support, it would never have seen the light of day. Prof. Dahm followed the project through to completion; he and Claudine Salmon, an anonymous reader in Ithaca, and especially Sharon Carstens, who put a careful eye to the text more than once, have offered helpful criticism, without bearing responsibility for any of my missteps. The editors of Cornell's Southeast Asia Program displayed patience and professionalism in dealing with a complex and sometimes messy task.