Acknowledgements

The chapters assembled in this volume were first discussed at a conference held in November 2019 at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, in London. The editors extend their warmest thanks to the team in place at the time – Philip Murphy, its director, Chloe Pieters, its administrative manager, and Olga Jimenez, its events manager. They ensured we had a relaxed, friendly and stimulating two days, and it was a fond memory for us to cherish during the times of COVID-19, lockdown and the restrictions of virtual conferences that hit us so soon afterwards.

Acknowledgements are also due to the Institut universitaire de France (IUF), the Université de Picardie Jules Verne (and the research unit CORPUS UR 4295) and the University of St Andrews, for providing material support for this project, both in London and since then; and to our anonymous reviewers as well as Emma Gallon at the University of London Press, for extremely useful and constructive recommendations and suggestions.

Last, but certainly not least, we would also like to express our profound thanks to all of our contributors for their patience, good humour and support as this volume took shape. In what were sometimes difficult circumstances, it has been a pleasure working with such an excellent team of colleagues.