Dedication (publishing) facts for kids
A dedication is a special message from an author at the beginning of a book. It's usually a way to thank someone important to them, like family, friends, or even a teacher. It can also be a way to honor someone or a special cause. You'll find it on its own page, usually near the front of the book.
Contents
History of Book Dedications
People have been writing dedications in books for a very long time, even back in ancient times. Besides saying thank you, authors often had other reasons for dedicating their work.
For many centuries, up until the 1700s, publishers didn't usually pay authors for their books. Instead, authors often got money or gifts from wealthy people, called patrons. In return, the author would dedicate their book to that patron. It was like a thank-you note that also helped the author get paid! Writers would often dedicate their books to important people like princes, bishops, or even whole cities, hoping to receive a gift in return.
Sometimes, authors would use very formal and humble language in their dedications to please the patron. It wasn't just authors; sometimes, even the people who printed the books used dedications to help cover their costs.
What Dedications Can Show Us
A book dedication can give us a cool peek into the author's life and the time they lived in.
For example, Lord Byron (who lived from 1788 to 1824) had a famous disagreement with another poet named Robert Southey. Byron wrote a long, teasing dedication in his poem Don Juan. In it, he made fun of Southey, saying he had given up his beliefs for money.
Dedications can also show what society was like. Many dedications from the Elizabethan era (when Queen Elizabeth I ruled England) were very smart and funny. Today, some authors use dedications to be surprising or amusing.
Authors have also used dedications to make important statements. For instance, author Toni Morrison dedicated her 1987 novel Beloved to "Sixty Million and more." This dedication honored the many enslaved people who suffered during a difficult time in history.
Dedications Today
In most new books, the dedication is on its own page, usually right after the main title page. It can be just a few words or a longer message, depending on what the author wants to say. Sometimes, it's even a longer letter or a special introduction.
Today, book dedications are usually short and sweet. Authors often thank their partners, family, friends, or anyone who inspired them. They are mostly a way to show thanks and appreciation. Sometimes, a book is dedicated to remember someone special who has passed away, or to support a particular cause.
Handwritten Dedications
It's important not to confuse a printed dedication in a book with a handwritten dedication. A handwritten dedication is when an author signs a single copy of their book and writes a personal message inside it for someone. This is called a presentation copy.
See also
In Spanish: Dedicatoria para niños
- Homage
- Front matter
- Prologue
- Paratext
