The Great Divide (55 page)

My wife, Isabella, is an international attorney who is currently earning degrees in theology and ethics at Oxford University. Her first
thesis was on the issue of human rights violations within the Chinese
lao gai
prison network. She has walked with me every step of the way, from dream to realization.

Over a hundred interviews were conducted for this book. Some have requested not to be named, but must be thanked nonetheless. A few of the many others who contributed are: George Ragsdale of Ragsdale, Liggett & Foley; Ashley Thrifte and Lawrence Davis of Womble Carlyle; State Supreme Court Justice David M. Britt; Federal Justice W. Earl Britt; Alexander B. Denson, United States Magistrate Judge; Ted Borris of Hatch, Little & Bunn; Leslie C. Griffin, Director of Asian Affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; and the staff at Amnesty International’s offices in Washington and London.

And finally I would like to thank my father, a Raleigh-based attorney for more than forty years. Thanks, Dad, both for sharing your wealth of experience, and for opening so many doors.