Acknowledgments
First, I would like to thank Anna Biller for her
countless contributions to this book: the research, the many
discussions, her invaluable help with the text itself, and, last
but not least, her knowledge of the art of seduction, of which I
have been the happy victim on numerous occasions.
I must thank my mother, Laurette, for supporting
me so steadfastly throughout this project and for being my most
devoted fan.
I would like to thank Catherine Léouzon, who some
years ago introduced me to Les Liaisons Dangereuses and the
world of Valmont.
I would like to thank David Frankel, for his deft
editing and for his much-appreciated advice; Molly Stern at Viking
Penguin, for overseeing the project and helping to shape it; Radha
Pancham, for keeping it all organized and being so patient; and
Brett Kelly, for moving things along.
With heavy heart I would like to pay tribute to
my cat Boris, who for thirteen years watched over me as I wrote and
whose presence is sorely missed. His successor, Brutus, has proven
to be a worthy muse.
Finally, I would like to honor my father. Words
cannot express how much I miss him and how much he has inspired my
work.