Introductions

One of the nuisances with novels is the introduction which gives the plot away. The dictionary definition states an introduction to be “That part of a book or discourse which introduces or leads the way to the main subject.”

It does not say, “Summarise the plot and give away the ending, the reader is only interested in your analysis of the Bronte Sisters and the symbolism of cutlery.”

The new editions of the Penguin Classics have a warning below the introduction, Readers are advised that this introduction makes details of the plot explicit.

Other publishers take note.