what is a preface

A preface is an introductory section of a book or other literary work written by the works author. It is often confused with a foreword or an introduction, but there are key differences among the three. A preface gives explanatory context for the book and tells readers how and why the book came into being, while the introduction introduces readers to the main topics of the manuscript and prepares readers for what they can expect. A foreword is written by someone other than the author and tells the readers why they should read the book. The preface is usually signed by the author, and the date and place of writing often follow the typeset signature. It is an authors chance to sell readers on their book, and it should be written with the intent to draw readers in, rather than simply self-mythologize or over-egg a message that is already clearly conveyed in the book.