“Isn’t it odd how much fatter a book gets when you’ve read it several times?” Mo
had said when, on Meggie’s last birthday, they were looking at all her dear old books again.
“As if something was left between the pages every time you read it.
Feelings, thoughts,
sounds, smells ... and then, when you look at the
book again many years later, you find
yourself there too, a slightly younger self, slightly different, as if the book had preserved you
like a pressed flower ... both strange and familiar.” (Funke,
Inkspell, p. 61)
4
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my supervisor Prof. Dr. Peter Paul Schnierer.
It is due to his
encouragement and continuous support that this study saw its completion. I am very grateful
for his suggestions and interest in the subject. Also, a “thank you” goes to Prof. Dr. Vera
Nünning, my second examiner.
I would like to thank my parents for their invaluable support throughout; words fail to
express my gratitude towards them.
Thanks go to my husband Robin, who,
technically and mentally, accompanied me
through all the ups and downs.
Fred Moore gladly made constructive comments and critically
proofread selected
chapters of the manuscript. Fred, thank you for your selfless commitment and dedication.
Pauline, thank you for your patience with us.
Finally, thanks go to my beloved friend Monica. You did not live to see the
completion
of this study, but your unfailing belief in me and your never-ending,
unquestioning friendship will stay with me forever.
This is for you.
