Walking Into the Night (22 page)
Acknowledgments
While some of the characters who appear in this novel are based on historical figures, it is important to stress that my portrayal of them is strictly fictional. I am, however, indebted to the brothers Arni Tomas and Kristjan Tomas Ragnarsson, who so generously shared with me their grandfather’s story as well as letters, journals, and reminiscences, without which this book could not have been written.
I must also take this opportunity to thank my editor, Carol Brown Janeway, for her thorough reading of the book and her advice; my agent, Gloria Loomis, for her care and support; and, last but not least, my dear friend Jason Epstein, whose guidance and wisdom I have had the privilege of enjoying for many years.
Also by Olaf Olafsson
The Journey Home
Absolution
Olaf Olafsson
Walking into the Night
Olaf Olafsson was born in Reykjavík, Iceland, in 1962, and studied physics as a Wien Scholar at Brandeis University. He is the author of two previous novels,
The Journey Home
and
Absolution
, which have been translated into fourteen languages. He lives in New York with his wife and two sons.
Many thanks to Victoria Cribb
for her invaluable assistance when writing this book.
FIRST ANCHOR BOOKS EDITION, OCTOBER 2004
Copyright © 2003 by Double O Investment Corporation
Anchor Books and colophon are registered trademarks of
Random House, Inc.
The Library of Congress has cataloged the Pantheon edition as follows:
Ólafur Jóhann Ólafsson.
Walking into the night / Olaf Olafsson.
p. cm.
1. Icelandic Americans—Fiction. 2. Hearst, William Randolph, 1863–1951—Fiction. 3.
San Simeon (Calif.)—Fiction. 4. Loss
(Psychology)—Fiction. 5. Runaway husbands—Fiction.
6. Butlers—Fiction. I. Title.
PS3615.L34W35 2003
839’.6934—dc21
2003048812
eISBN: 978-0-307-43009-0
v3.0