Acknowledgments

This book began with my curiosity about why two of nineteenth-century India's most accomplished women came to Britain seeking a medical degree but did not obtain one. That curiosity has been encouraged, indulged, and nurtured by many people. Although my gratitude cannot be fully expressed here, I hope to acknowledge at least some of my indebtedness to them. The research for this project would not have been possible without institutional support of all kinds. Thanks are therefore due to Indiana State University, the American Council of Learned Societies, and the American Philosophical Society, all of which financed summer research grants in support of this study. I am grateful to the National Endowment for the Humanities for the opportunity to participate in Michael Levenson's summer seminar, "The Culture of London, 1850-1920," which enabled me to appreciate Indian travelers' encounters in the imperial capital and the camaraderie of my fellow "Londonists" as well. Thanks also to Lynn Amidon at the Royal Free Hospital Archives, David Doughan and Veronica Perkins at the Fawcett Library, and, not least, Nicolle Ciofalo, Zachary Jaffe, and Valorie Huynh at the Milton Eisenhower Library at Johns Hopkins University, each of whom facilitated my research and helped track down obscure sources and references with apparently inexhaustible goodwill. William Alspaugh of the South Asia Collection at the Regenstein Library (University of Chicago) also proved helpful in finding the citation for a photograph, for which I am grateful. Richard Sorabji generously shared his memories and his photographs of Cornelia Sorabji, without which my understanding of her would have been quite different. To Amar and Sally Singh I am also grateful for glimpses of Janaki Majumdar. I have

enjoyed the hospitality of the Sorabjis in Oxford; all the Arroyos in Chicago; Anna and Charles Denchfield in London; Audrey and Eric Matkins at Mellow Oak; the de Silvas in Sri Lanka; the Ahluwalias in Delhi; Ann McGrath and family in Sydney; and David Goodman, Julie McLeod, and Clara in Melbourne. I cherish these memories and look forward to repaying their generosity in years to come.

As I was writing and revising pieces of this manuscript, I was lucky enough to receive feedback from many generous and thoughtful colleagues in a variety of venues. All of them have contributed in large and small ways to the book it has become. They include Sanjam Ahluwalia, Sally Alexander, Ernie Aronson, Marc Baer, Kate Baldwin, Sara Berry, Barbara Black, Joanne Brown, Barbara Caine, Chris Cannon, Sara Castro-Klaren, Nupur Chaudhuri, Paul Walker Clarke, Gary Daily, Deirdre d'Albertis, Lisa Kim Davis, Joanna de Groot, Susan Dehler, Chandra de Silva, Toby Ditz, Karen Dubinsky, Nadja Durbach, Belinda Edmond-son, Shelly Eversley, Mary Fissell, Alison Fletcher, Ian Fletcher, Yaël Fletcher, Durba Ghosh, Pamela Gilbert, Rosemary Gould, Rob Gregg, Pat Grimshaw, Catherine Hall, Ellen Handy, Darlene Hantzis, Elke Heckner, Dorothy Helly, Heidi Holder, Kumari Jayawardena, Steve Johnstone, Sanjay Joshi, Morris Kaplan, Dane Kennedy, Diane Kirkby, Ann Klotz, Seth Koven, Lara Kriegel, Mike Kugler, Marilyn Lake, Michael Levenson, Maria Lima, Devoney Looser, Joseph McLaughlin, Harry Marks, Saloni Mathur, Fiona Paisley, Pamela Corpron Parker, Chandrika Paul, Sonali Perera, David Pike, Richard Price, Sumathi Ramaswami, Sue Reed, Jane Rendall, Frances Rosenfeld, Dorothy Ross, Bill Rowe, Penny Russell, Mahua Sarkar, Joan Scott, Sudipta Sen, Nayan Shah, Amy Smiley, Faith Smith, Mary Spongberg, Heather Streets, Hsu-Ming Teo, Kamala Visweswaran, Chris Waters, and Susan Zlotnick. Students in Audrey Kobayasi's women's studies class at Queen's University in the spring of 1996 were among the most engaged critics I have encountered, and I appreciate having been able to share my work with them. Among my students at Hopkins, Kelly Abbett, Sally Adee, Ghida Aljuburi, Angelique Budaya, Laurel Clark, Gail Dave, Suma Dronavalli, Jennifer Eggers, Anjali Kaur, Karen LeBlanc, Bahar Niakan, and Aileen Tien are remembered for their willingness to engage, to argue, and (especially) to disagree. Sheila Levine, for her part, has been a warm and supportive editor whose confidence in this project has been much appreciated.

Geraldine Forbes, Philippa Levine, Laura Tabili, Susan Thorne, and Angela Woollacott each read the entire manuscript in draft. Their com-

ments offered challenges I hope I have met. Meera Kosambi and Uma Chakravarti were kind enough to read sections of the work-in-progress; their insights and their suggestions made all the difference. Mrinalini Sinha gave me astute and unfailingly helpful criticism all along the way; her influence on my work is perhaps greater than she realizes. Mary Poovey's guidance, and her friendship too, have been deeply appreciated. Janaki Nair and Padma Anagol were also careful readers; I only regret that our meetings are so infrequent. Maura O'Connor's warmth and like-mindedness are always comforting; and I am ever glad of Deb Rossum's companionship in the struggle. I feel as well profoundly grateful to Gerry Forbes for her high standards and dedication to women's history; to Barbara Ramusack for giving me a glimpse of "her India," and so much more; to Susan Thorne for her integrity and her critical insight; and to Angela Woollacott for her collegiality and friendship. Peter Marshall's interest and support have never subsided, while Doug Peers has been characteristically generous. Robert Reid-Pharr's wit, work, and friendship are cherished more than perhaps he knows.

George Robb keeps me in Victoriana, which makes all that walking almost worth it. Madhavi Kale's passion for history and her uniquely discerning eye help remind me of why I'm in this to begin with. Laura Mayhall is that rare combination of critical reader and faithful friend; meanwhile, Michael and Miss Izzy E have made me laugh in Jackson and beyond it. Ann Klotz is as dear a friend as one could wish for. Knowing that Hannah Rosen is in the world makes many things possible. Jennifer Morgan has long been a mainstay, in work and play and matters of the heart. To Herman Bennett I owe an immeasurable debt—for all those walks around the track, but perhaps most of all for his political commitments. Kathy Navajas's friendship—and her affirmations—promise always to nurture and sustain. Thanks to Jan Paxton for her support in matters big and small and to Ranice Crosby for being in and around Jenkins Hall. Judy Walkowitz has offered me opportunities and insights from which I continue to benefit and for which I am grateful. In Philippa Levine, I continue to find a daily supporter and a remarkable friend.

This book is dedicated to my father and my mother—for whom there'll always be an England—in recognition of what they have given me, London included. Thanks to Monica (who prefers Paris); Vicki (whose love and laughter are essential); and Winnie and Frank (who are ever in my heart). And finally for Paul, who never asks but surely knows the reasons why.