Acknowledgements

I wish to thank Chandos Publishing for giving me the opportunity to write this book; and my thanks go to the people at Chandos, especially assistant commissioning editor George Knott, commissioning editor Jonathan Davis, copy editor Louise Larchbourne, production editor Fenton Coulthurst, publisher Dr. Glyn Jones and all the staff members who were involved in this project, for their professionalism and patience.

I also wish to thank Dr. William Miller, who kindly agreed to write a foreword for the book. I am appreciative of my York College Library colleagues, whose encouragement was the source of my energy. I am indebted to my wife, Shaoshan Li, who always reads my manuscripts and offers invaluable advice, for her understanding and tolerance.

This book would have been impossible without the help of all of you. For this, I am truly grateful.