Acknowledgements

I feel deeply indebted to several persons who were important in a variety of ways for the creation of this book.
Patrick Spottiswoode, the co-founder and long-time director of Globe Education, kindly listened to my ideas during the initial stages of contemplating the research questions surrounding shipwrecks in Shakespeare’s works, which went along the lines of: ‘is shipwreck utilised so often for theatrical convenience or because the topic’s importance?’. Patrick was the first who endorsed my answer: ‘both!’. His friendly support is well remembered.
Vanessa Schormann, a dramaturg, lecturer, and former organizer of the Shakespeare Festival in Neuss, and Maria Eisenmann, a professor of English Language Teaching, both former board members of the Deutsche Shakespeare Gesellschaft, were frequently met during Shakespeare-related events and became dear friends.
They not only showed genuine interest in my ideas and progress reports, but also provided valuable thoughts that have been incorporated into this book.
Nick Walton from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford graciously offered to engage in an online ‘shipwreck research conversation’ about my project. His positive assessment of my work did much to make me continue writing.
Zeno Ackermann, a professor of British Cultural Studies, whom I met later in the writing process, showed keen interest in reading the draft and provided insightful feedback. I am especially grateful for Zeno’s kind gesture of writing the foreword.
Michael Doneus, a professor and my mentor in the unrelated field of aerial archaeology, took a stern approach when I was filled with doubts about whether I should proceed with writing a book. His firm statement, ‘If you haven’t found a similar argument in the literature, you should publish yours,’ was instrumental in giving me courage to embark on this endeavour.
Finally, and most importantly, I would like to thank my wife, Elisabeth, for her tolerance of my reduced sociability during the phases of intensive research and concentrated writing. I am glad that she still seems to endure me.