preface, postface , afterword/epilogue

ep·i·logue ep·i·log (ĕp'ə-lôg', -lŏg')
also
n.

1. 1. A short poem or speech spoken directly to the audience following the conclusion of a play.
   2. The performer who delivers such a short poem or speech.
2. A short addition or concluding section at the end of a literary work, often dealing with the future of its characters. Also called afterword.

[Middle English epiloge, from Old French epilogue, from Latin epilogus, from Greek epilogos, conclusion of a speech : epi-, epi- + logos, word, speech.]

pref·ace (prĕf'ĭs)
n.

1. 1. A preliminary statement or essay introducing a book that explains its scope, intention, or background and is usually written by the author.
   2. An introductory section, as of a speech.
2. Something introductory; a preliminary: An informal brunch served as a preface to the three-day conference.
3. often Preface The words introducing the central part of the Eucharist in several Christian churches.

tr.v., -aced, -ac·ing, -ac·es.

1. To introduce by or provide with a preliminary statement or essay.
2. To serve as an introduction to.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin praefātiō, praefātiōn-, from praefātus, past participle of praefārī, to say before : prae-, pre- + fārī, to speak.]

prefacer pref'ac·er n.



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A postface is the opposite of a preface, a brief article or explanatory information placed at the end of a book. Sometimes general information about a book and the people for whom it was written is at the back of the book in a postface. In ancient Chinese works, the postface is called 序/叙言. Afterwords are quite often used in books so that the non-pertinent information will appear at the end of the literary work, and not confuse the reader.

Some may regard this entry as a joke based on Caroll Fisher Saller's comment in her book "The Subversive Copy Editor" that you can't put the preface at the end of the book. After all, it's not called a "postface."

However, one authentic example of a postface can be found in the 1954 book, "Dali's Mustache: A Photographic Interview," by Salvador Dali and Philippe Halsman. While the main body of the work is a collaboration, each author gets a few words to himself, Dali in the preface and Halsman in the postface.