Preface

Preface

A preface is an introduction to a book written by the author of the book. An introductory essay written by a different person is a "foreword" and precedes an author's preface. The preface often closes with acknowledgements of those who assisted in the project.

A preface generally covers the story of how the book came into being, or how the idea for the book was developed; this is often followed by thanks and acknowledgments to people who were helpful to the author during the time of writing.

A preface is usually signed (and the date and place of writing often follow the typeset signature); a foreword by another person is always signed. Information essential to the main text is generally placed in a set of explanatory notes, or perhaps in an "Introduction" that may be paginated with Arabic numerals, rather than in the preface. The term "preface" can also mean any preliminary or introductory statement. It is sometimes abbreviated "pref".

Similarly, a "prologue" is typically an introduction to a novel, fitting in with the genre and storyline of the main text, rather than a section in the author's voice.

Preface comes from the Latin, meaning either "spoken before" ("prae" + "fatia") or "made before" ("prae" + "factum"). While the former source of the word could have preface meaning the same as prologue, the latter strongly implies an introduction written before the body of the book. With this meaning of stated intention, British publishing up to at least the middle of the twentieth century distinguished between preface and introduction.

References

*1911

Further reading

*A history of the preface in several languages is contained in Tötösy de Zepetnek, Steven. "The Social Dimensions of Fiction: On the Rhetoric and Function of Prefacing Novels in the Nineteenth-Century Canadas". Braunschweig-Wiesbaden: Westdeutscher (Friedr. Vieweg & Sohn), 1993.


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  • préface — [ prefas ] n. f. • prefaice fin XIIe; lat. præfatio, de præfari « dire d avance » 1 ♦ Texte placé en tête d un livre qui est de l auteur ou d une autre personne, et qui sert à le présenter au lecteur. ⇒ avant propos, avertissement, avis,… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • Preface — • The first part of the Eucharistic prayers in all rites Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Preface     Preface     † …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • preface — PREFACE. s. f. Avant propos, discours preliminaire que l on met ordinairement à la teste d un livre pour preparer le lecteur. Grande, longue preface. belle preface. preface ennuyeuse. faire une preface. l Autheur a mis une excellente preface à la …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • preface — PREFÁCE, prefác, vb. III. 1. tranz. şi refl. A da sau a lua o formă nouă, un conţinut nou; a (se) transforma, a (se) modifica, a (se) schimba, a (se) preschimba. 2. tranz. A repara, a reface un obiect, schimbându i (parţial sau total) aspectul,… …   Dicționar Român

  • Preface — Préface Cette page d’homonymie répertorie les différents sujets et articles partageant un même nom …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Preface — Pref ace, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Prefaced}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Prefacing}.] To introduce by a preface; to give a preface to; as, to preface a book discourse. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Preface — Pref ace (?; 48), n. [F. pr[ e]face; cf. Sp. prefacio, prefacion, It. prefazio, prefazione; all fr. L. praefatio, fr. praefari to speak or say beforehand; prae before + fari, fatus, to speak. See {Fate}.] 1. Something spoken as introductory to a… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • preface — Preface, et prologue d un livre, Propos preparatif de ce que nous voulons dire puis apres, Prologus, Praefatio, Exordium. Celuy qui recite la preface és comedies, Prologus. Faire une preface, un preambule, ou une entrée de plaidoirie, Exordium… …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • preface — ► NOUN 1) an introduction to a book, stating its subject, scope, or aims. 2) the preliminary part of a speech. ► VERB 1) provide with a preface. 2) (preface with/by) begin (a speech or event) with or by doing something. DERIVATIVES …   English terms dictionary

  • preface — [pref′is] n. [ME prefas < MFr < ML prefatia, for L praefatio < prae , before (see PRE ) + fatus, pp. of fari, to speak: see FAME] 1. [usually P ] R.C.Ch. the introduction to the Canon of the Mass, ending with the Sanctus 2. an… …   English World dictionary

  • Preface — Pref ace, v. i. To make a preface. Jer. Taylor. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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