dedicated to Kim Eun.Wolf and Rosemary.wolf ☆ thanks First and foremost, I would like to thank Charles Vess.He is the closest thing we have today to the great elf painters of the Victorian period, and these words would not exist without his artistic inspiration.Every time I finish a chapter I call him and read it to him.He listened patiently and giggled at all the right places. I would also like to thank Jenny Lee, Karen Berger, Paul Levitz, Merrilee Heifetz, Lou Aronica, Jennifer Hershey, and Tia Maggini, each of whom helped make this book possible. I owe a huge debt of credit to the Hope Mirrlees, Lord Dunsany, James Branch Cabell and CS Lewis, wherever they are currently, for teaching me that fairy tales are for adults too.

Tori lent me a house, and I wrote the first chapter in it, and all she asked was for me to plant a tree for her. After the book was written, people read it, and they told me what was good and what was not.It's not their fault if I don't listen.I especially want to thank Amy Horsting, Lisa Henson, Diana Wynne Jones, Chris Bell and Susanna Clarke. My wife, Mary, and my assistant, Lorraine, typed the handwritten drafts of the first few chapters for me, which was more work than was originally undertaken for this book, and I cannot thank them enough. Honestly, the kids haven't helped at all, and I really feel like they will always be.

Neil.Gaiman June 1999