Note on this edition: this is an electronic version of the 1999 book ...

The Beginnings 19the materials I have used, but all explicit references are identified there, andalso a few important others. The bibliography is divided in three parts (generalreference, research literature and works of fiction) for practical reasons.An index is also supplied to facilitate quick access to the discussions of individualtexts, authors and key concepts.Finally a note on the use of the personal pronoun: “he” is applied throughoutthis study as a substitute for “the reader” to indicate my own, activerole. A female reader, or a reader from a different cultural background orwith a different set of values, would perhaps read these materials differentlyin numerous ways I cannot anticipate. Instead of trying to deny such a possibility,I embrace it. Disagreement is another name for diversity, and a signof the other, inviting respectful dialogue, rather than denial.