Preface and Acknowledgements

Professor of Global History, Department of Communication and Culture Independent Scholar Collaboration between the two authors dates back to 2014, when both presented on a panel at the American Historical Association. In his position as Deputy Director at the German Historical Institute in Washington DC, Uwe Spiekermann subsequently supported Stefan Manz in securing a research grant at the Institute and publishing an article on ‘German Entrepreneurs Around the World’ for the Institute’s flagship project, Immigrant Entrepreneurship. Over the years, both authors have presented their work at conferences and colloquia in the United States and across Europe, benefiting from valuable feedback from participants. The present study combines and expands this scholarship towards a broader conceptualization of global food empires in the nineteenth century. We are deeply grateful to a number of colleagues who have helped us to trace sources and shape our arguments on specific themes within this book. These include, in alphabetical order, Mark Benbow, Henderson Carter, Andrew Hassell, Tara Inniss, Volker Prott, Ilaria Scaglia, Brian Sudlow, Joseph Yannielli, and the three reviewers for Oxford University Press. Crucial support came from Aston University in granting Stefan Manz a semester of research leave. Finally, we extend our sincere thanks to the team at Oxford University Press: executive editor Thomas Stottor, project editor Jo Spillane, production manager Saranya Ravi, and copy editor Juliet Gardner.