A dedication or book dedication is the expression of friendly connection or thanks by the author towards another person. The dedication has its own place on the dedication page and is part of the front matter.
Evidence of dedications is provided back into Classical antiquity. Besides the wish to express their gratitude towards a certain person, the authors often had also other reasons to dedicate their work to a particular person. Well into the 18th century, it was not usual for publishers to remunerate the authors; authors tended to be paid or remunerated as one element of a patron-client relationship, in which the author-client paid tribute, in the dedication, to his or her patron. A typical writer dedicated "their book to a high standing personality – to Fürsts or bishops – or to a city and tried to gain some money through this practice".[1]
In many cases the petitioner was lucky and received a gift from the patron. In some cases, the writer groveled before the patron and a formal dedication "contained often a very elaborate and submissive affection".[1] In some cases not only the authors tried to get some money, but also the printers tried through dedications to cover a part of their costs.[citation needed]
Themesedit
A book dedication can provide a fascinating glimpse into the life and times of the author.[2] For example, Lord Byron (1788–1824) engaged in a famous feud with Robert Southey, who was then England's Poet Laureate. Byron wrote a mocking 17-verse dedication to his epic poem Don Juan in which he savagely pilloried Southey as a dull, reactionary "warbler" who had abandoned his political principles for favor and financial reward.[3]
Book dedications can reflect the tastes and mores of society. Whereas many Elizabethan dedications were erudite and witty, some modern authors have abandoned literary pretense, sometimes using profanity to shock or amuse their audiences.[4]
Book dedications have also been used to make political statements, such as the condemnation of war and inequality. Author Toni Morrison dedicated Beloved, her 1987 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a fugitive slave who killed her own daughter, to "Sixty Million and more."[5]
Todayedit
In newer books, the dedication is located on a "dedication page" on its own, usually on the recto page after the main title page inside the front matter. It can occupy one or multiple lines depending on its importance. It can also be "in a longer version as a dedication letter or dedication preface at the book's beginning".[6]
Today, book dedications tend to be short, often thanking partners, family, friends or muses, in the form of a personal note.[7] They are basically a means to express gratitude. Sometimes a book is dedicated to the memory of a loved one, or to a cause.[8]
Handwritten dedicationedit
The dedication is not to be confounded with the handwritten dedication of a single copy: the presentation copy.[citation needed]
^ abCitation after Helmut Hiller, Stephan Füssel: Wörterbuch des Buches. 6. Auflage. Vittorio Klostermann, Frankfurt am Main, 2002. ISBN3-465-032209, p. 82.
^Barnes, Patricia (2015). Tender, Tawdry & Timeless Book Dedications. Amazon Digital Services LLC - Kdp Print Us. ISBN978-0989870832.
^Barnes (2015). Tender, Tawdry & Timeless Book Dedications. pp. 281–288.
^Barnes (2015). Tender, Tawdry & Timeless Book Dedications. p. 13.
^Barnes (2015). Tender, Tawdry & Timeless Book Dedications. p. 173.
^Ursula Rautenberger (ed.): Reclams Sachlexikon des Buches, p. 148.
^"Book Dedications". Pantera Press. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
^Noblit, Clayton (2 June 2021). "How (and Why) to Write a Book Dedication". Written Word Media. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
Jost Hochuli: Buchgestaltung in der Schweiz. 2. Auflage. Pro Helvetia, Schweizer Kulturstiftung. Zürich 1998. ISBN3-908102-10-3 (German)
Reclams Sachlexikon des Buches. Hrsg. von U. Rautenberg. Reclam Verlag, Stuttgart 2003. ISBN3-15-010542-0(German)
Diana Stört: Form- und Funktionswandel der Widmung. Zur historischen Entwicklung und Typologisierung eines Paratextes. In: "Aus meiner Hand dies Buch." Zum Phänomen der Widmung. Hrsg. von Volker Kaukoreit, Marcel Atze und Michael Hansel. Wien: Turia + Kant 2007 (= Sichtungen. Archiv, Bibliothek, Literaturwissenschaft 8./9. Jg., 2005/2006), S. 79-112. ISBN3-85132-476-5 (German)
Emily Green: Dedicating Music, 1785-1850. University of Rochester Press, 2019. ISBN9781580469494
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dedication pages.
The dictionary definition of dedication at Wiktionary
December 15, 2023
dedication, publishing, dedication, book, dedication, expression, friendly, connection, thanks, author, towards, another, person, dedication, place, dedication, page, part, front, matter, book, dedication, group, people, contents, history, themes, today, handw. A dedication or book dedication is the expression of friendly connection or thanks by the author towards another person The dedication has its own place on the dedication page and is part of the front matter Book dedication to a group of people Contents 1 History 2 Themes 3 Today 4 Handwritten dedication 5 See also 6 Notes 7 External linksHistory edit nbsp The dedication of Orfeo by Monteverdi 1609Evidence of dedications is provided back into Classical antiquity Besides the wish to express their gratitude towards a certain person the authors often had also other reasons to dedicate their work to a particular person Well into the 18th century it was not usual for publishers to remunerate the authors authors tended to be paid or remunerated as one element of a patron client relationship in which the author client paid tribute in the dedication to his or her patron A typical writer dedicated their book to a high standing personality to Fursts or bishops or to a city and tried to gain some money through this practice 1 In many cases the petitioner was lucky and received a gift from the patron In some cases the writer groveled before the patron and a formal dedication contained often a very elaborate and submissive affection 1 In some cases not only the authors tried to get some money but also the printers tried through dedications to cover a part of their costs citation needed Themes editA book dedication can provide a fascinating glimpse into the life and times of the author 2 For example Lord Byron 1788 1824 engaged in a famous feud with Robert Southey who was then England s Poet Laureate Byron wrote a mocking 17 verse dedication to his epic poem Don Juan in which he savagely pilloried Southey as a dull reactionary warbler who had abandoned his political principles for favor and financial reward 3 Book dedications can reflect the tastes and mores of society Whereas many Elizabethan dedications were erudite and witty some modern authors have abandoned literary pretense sometimes using profanity to shock or amuse their audiences 4 Book dedications have also been used to make political statements such as the condemnation of war and inequality Author Toni Morrison dedicated Beloved her 1987 Pulitzer Prize winning novel about a fugitive slave who killed her own daughter to Sixty Million and more 5 Today editIn newer books the dedication is located on a dedication page on its own usually on the recto page after the main title page inside the front matter It can occupy one or multiple lines depending on its importance It can also be in a longer version as a dedication letter or dedication preface at the book s beginning 6 Today book dedications tend to be short often thanking partners family friends or muses in the form of a personal note 7 They are basically a means to express gratitude Sometimes a book is dedicated to the memory of a loved one or to a cause 8 Handwritten dedication editThe dedication is not to be confounded with the handwritten dedication of a single copy the presentation copy citation needed See also editHomage Front matter Prologue ParatextNotes edit a b Citation after Helmut Hiller Stephan Fussel Worterbuch des Buches 6 Auflage Vittorio Klostermann Frankfurt am Main 2002 ISBN 3 465 032209 p 82 Barnes Patricia 2015 Tender Tawdry amp Timeless Book Dedications Amazon Digital Services LLC Kdp Print Us ISBN 978 0989870832 Barnes 2015 Tender Tawdry amp Timeless Book Dedications pp 281 288 Barnes 2015 Tender Tawdry amp Timeless Book Dedications p 13 Barnes 2015 Tender Tawdry amp Timeless Book Dedications p 173 Ursula Rautenberger ed Reclams Sachlexikon des Buches p 148 Book Dedications Pantera Press 2 February 2017 Retrieved 31 March 2022 Noblit Clayton 2 June 2021 How and Why to Write a Book Dedication Written Word Media Retrieved 31 March 2022 Jost Hochuli Buchgestaltung in der Schweiz 2 Auflage Pro Helvetia Schweizer Kulturstiftung Zurich 1998 ISBN 3 908102 10 3 German Reclams Sachlexikon des Buches Hrsg von U Rautenberg Reclam Verlag Stuttgart 2003 ISBN 3 15 010542 0 German Diana Stort Form und Funktionswandel der Widmung Zur historischen Entwicklung und Typologisierung eines Paratextes In Aus meiner Hand dies Buch Zum Phanomen der Widmung Hrsg von Volker Kaukoreit Marcel Atze und Michael Hansel Wien Turia Kant 2007 Sichtungen Archiv Bibliothek Literaturwissenschaft 8 9 Jg 2005 2006 S 79 112 ISBN 3 85132 476 5 German Emily Green Dedicating Music 1785 1850 University of Rochester Press 2019 ISBN 9781580469494External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dedication pages nbsp The dictionary definition of dedication at Wiktionary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dedication publishing amp oldid 1177843243, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
