ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

First of all, my thanks go to Ettore’s closest relatives: Signora Nunni Cirino Majorana (who sadly passed away in October 2008) and her three sons (Fabio, Ettore Jr., and Pietro), as well as Wolfgang-Fabio Schultze (son of the late Rosina Majorana). I used to think that my family is a mess. I now realize the error of my ways. More seriously, were it not for the Majorana family’s kindness and their openness in talking to me, this book would have been very different: It would have lacked love. Luciano’s sons happen to be irreconcilably different people, but if I may say so, I’m very fond of them all.

I’m also eager to thank Dr. Gilda Senatore for so effusively conversing with me. I’d like to register my gratefulness for the hospitality afforded by her children and their spouses.

I benefited enormously from the help of three Majorana scholars, who have devoted lifetimes to his study. In alphabetical order, I warmly thank Francesco Guerra, Erasmo Recami, and Bruno Russo. Their assistance on many different levels was invaluable to me.

If the Italian language eventually stopped cringing while I researched this book, it’s due to Silvia Capurro, who, after many a pub outing, converted my unashamed Portaliano into a passable (if rather spicy) rendition of her language. I’m also thankful to my colleague Carlo Contaldi (as it happens, grandnephew of Senator Corbino), who helped with the translations of Italian documents presented in this book.

In scientific matters I profited from the comments of David Sington, Julia Sedgbeer, and Kelly Stelle. In editorial and publishing matters I’m very grateful to Bill Frucht, Susan Rabiner, and Alix Sleigh. Susan Baller-Sheppard and Bernice Landry were very helpful when I was having doubts about tone. My tenor owes much to Italian writers Leonardo Sciascia and Antonio Tabucchi, masters of the subverted thriller and the open-ended narrative.

Above all I’d like to thank my girlfriend, Kim Baskerville, who traveled with me while I did the field work, and read through the whole manuscript at all stages. Admittedly she was paid handsomely in fine Italian wines, but without her endless patience, this book simply wouldn’t exist. I dedicate this book to her.