Crossbones (52 page)

I am grateful to many people, who, playing host to me or serving as guides or bodyguards, facilitated my travels in Somalia so that I could do my research in a secure, friendly environment. My special thanks go to the director of the Growe Puntland Development and Research Center, Abdurhman A. Shuke and his staff; to Said Farah Mahmoud and his wife, Faduma; to Hussein H. M. Boqor in Bosaso; to Hawa Aden in Galkayo; to Hussein Koronto in Eyl. In Newcastle, where I held a Leverhulme Professorship in the 2010 spring term, my thanks go to Linda Anderson, the director of the Newcastle Centre for the Literary Arts. Lastly, my thanks and love go to Anna and William Colaiace, Lois Vossen and Jay Bryon, Paula Rabinowitz, and David Bernstein.

Need I add that I alone am responsible for the opinions expressed in this novel and for any infelicities or misinterpretations?

Nuruddin Farah
March 2011