Acknowledgments
The theory of Romantic Antiquarian literature and a methodology for its analysis began to take shape many years ago in long conversations with my Ph.D. dissertation director—Leslie A. Fiedler—at the State University of New York at Buffalo. His brilliant critical insights, knowledge of the gothic strain in American literature, and interest in popular culture have left an indelible mark upon these pages, and I am deeply grateful to him. I am also saddened he passed away before this project was completed. During long years of research, I have benefited from the work of many scholars and writers in a wide array of fields; their names and contributions are duly noted in the pages ahead. Archaeologists and literati who have had a crucial impact on my own views and who provided special inspiration are Allen Hoey, Gesa Mackenthun, Jack Rossen, James A. Tuck, and Lewis Turco. I greatly appreciate the contributions of graphic designer Michelle Chassé who produced the digital versions of the illustrations from antiquarian texts in this volume. Given the age and condition of these sources, this became a restoration project; long-neglected images have been given new life and freshness.