Alasdair Gray has opened his Book of Prefaces with what he calls an Advertisement and followed that with an essay 'On What Led to English Literature'. Since he deliberately does not distinguish between the various sorts of front matter a volume may contain, both might be characterised as prefaces. I encountered this laxity with some dismay, although I understand it. The editor did not wish to inhibit his choices of materials by drawing lines none of his examples would obey anyway, or slow his process of selection with quibbles. Nevertheless, to protest sloppy common usage, I think the necessary distinctions should be made.

LRB 5 October 2000 | PDF Download