Outsize bouquets and thanks go to my publisher, Judith Curr, at Atria, who has given me a gift of confidence and an opportunity more precious than I can translate into words. Thank you so much, Judith. It is a privilege to be an author with you at Atria. Also, to Carolyn Reidy, for the kindest words possible. Very big thanks to Atria production editor Sybil Pincus and copy editor Muriel Jorgensen, who translated my Australian Englishness into the edition you see here. The wonderful Sarah Branham has been a touchstone and an enthusiastic, supportive editor at Atria. I look forward to a long and productive association with you, Sarah. Thanks to everyone at Atria. Final words on this page must be in homage to my New Yorker husband, Gavrik Losey, who “lit” and “directed” so much of the book. Unpaid researcher, maître en scene, and no resident of Dante’s ante-hell in any sense, without you I, simply, would never have got through it. You always stood by me. You are still standing…Thank you! TH x

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born and educated in Sydney, Australia, Titania Hardie is the highly successful author of a range of distinctive books published in the UK on folklore, magic, and divination, and recently a new series of children’s books, The Frangipani Fairies. She has first-class honors degrees in psychology and English and was awarded the prestigious Chatterton scholarship for postgraduate study at Bristol University, where she is currently completing her M.A. on the Romantic poets. The Rose Labyrinth is her first novel. Titania lives in Somerset with her husband and two daughters. To find out more about her and the story behind the book, visit www.theroselabyrinth.com.