Blurb
Encyclopedia
A blurb is a short summary or some words of praise accompanying a creative work, usually used on books without giving away any details, that is usually referring to the words on the back of the book jacket but also commonly seen on DVD and video cases, web portal
s, and news websites.
from the 14th century. The concept was known as taqriz in medieval Arabic literature
.
The word blurb originated in 1907. American humorist Gelett Burgess
's short 1906 book Are you a bromide
? was presented in a limited edition to an annual trade association dinner. The custom at such events was to have a dust jacket
promoting the work and with, as Burgess' publisher B. W. Huebsch described it,
In this case the jacket proclaimed "YES, this is a 'BLURB'!" and the picture was of a (fictitious) young woman "Miss Belinda Blurb" shown calling out, described as "in the act of blurbing."
The name and term stuck for any publisher's contents on a book's back cover, even after the picture was dropped and only the complimentary text remained.
The blurb was developed simultaneously in Germany where it is regarded to have been invented by Karl Robert Langewiesche
around 1902. In German bibliographic usage, it is usually located on the second page of the book underneath the Half title
, or on the dust cover.
.
The Harvard Lampoon satire of The Lord of the Rings
, entitled Bored of the Rings
, deliberately used phony blurbs by deceased authors on the inside cover. One of the blurbs stated "One of the two or three books...", and nothing else.
In the 1980s, Spy Magazine ran a regular feature called "Logrolling
in Our Time" which exposed writers who wrote blurbs for one anothers' books.http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117932281.html?categoryid=1010&cs=1
Web portal
A web portal or links page is a web site that functions as a point of access to information in the World Wide Web. A portal presents information from diverse sources in a unified way....
s, and news websites.
History
The concept of a "brief statement praising a literary product" dates back to medieval literature of EgyptLiterature of Egypt
Egyptian literature traces its beginnings to ancient Egypt and is some of the earliest known literature. Indeed, the Egyptians were the first culture to develop literature as we know it today, that is, the book.-Ancient Egyptian literature:...
from the 14th century. The concept was known as taqriz in medieval Arabic literature
Arabic literature
Arabic literature is the writing produced, both prose and poetry, by writers in the Arabic language. The Arabic word used for literature is adab which is derived from a meaning of etiquette, and implies politeness, culture and enrichment....
.
The word blurb originated in 1907. American humorist Gelett Burgess
Gelett Burgess
Frank Gelett Burgess was an artist, art critic, poet, author and humorist. An important figure in the San Francisco Bay Area literary renaissance of the 1890s, particularly through his iconoclastic little magazine, The Lark, he is best known as a writer of nonsense verse...
's short 1906 book Are you a bromide
Bromide (language)
A bromide is a phrase or platitude that, having been employed excessively, suggests insincerity or a lack of originality in the speaker employing it....
? was presented in a limited edition to an annual trade association dinner. The custom at such events was to have a dust jacket
Dust jacket
The dust jacket of a book is the detachable outer cover, usually made of paper and printed with text and illustrations. This outer cover has folded flaps that hold it to the front and back book covers...
promoting the work and with, as Burgess' publisher B. W. Huebsch described it,
- "the picture of a damsel — languishing, heroic, or coquettish — anyhow, a damsel on the jacket of every novel"
In this case the jacket proclaimed "YES, this is a 'BLURB'!" and the picture was of a (fictitious) young woman "Miss Belinda Blurb" shown calling out, described as "in the act of blurbing."
The name and term stuck for any publisher's contents on a book's back cover, even after the picture was dropped and only the complimentary text remained.
The blurb was developed simultaneously in Germany where it is regarded to have been invented by Karl Robert Langewiesche
Karl Robert Langewiesche
Karl Robert Langewiesche was a German publisher. In 1902 he founded the Verlag Langeweische in Dusseldorf, one of the oldest book publishers in Germany still operating....
around 1902. In German bibliographic usage, it is usually located on the second page of the book underneath the Half title
Half title
The half title, or bastard title, is a page carrying nothing but the title of a book, as opposed to the title page, which also lists subtitle, author, publisher and similar data....
, or on the dust cover.
Today
A blurb on a book or a film can be any combination of quotes from the work, the author, the publisher, reviewers or fans, a summary of the plot, a biography of the author or simply claims about the importance of the work. Many humorous books and films parody blurbs that deliver exaggerated praise by unlikely people and insults disguised as praiseBackhanded compliment
A backhanded compliment, also known as a left handed compliment, or asteism is an insult that is disguised as a compliment. Sometimes, a backhanded compliment may be inadvertent. However, the term usually connotes an intent to belittle or condescend...
.
- Monty Python and the Holy GrailMonty Python and the Holy GrailMonty Python and the Holy Grail is a 1974 British comedy film written and performed by the comedy group Monty Python , and directed by Gilliam and Jones...
- "Makes Ben Hur look like an Epic" - 1066 and All That1066 and All That1066 and All That: A Memorable History of England, comprising all the parts you can remember, including 103 Good Things, 5 Bad Kings and 2 Genuine Dates is a tongue-in-cheek reworking of the history of England. Written by W. C. Sellar and R. J. Yeatman and illustrated by John Reynolds, it first...
- "We look forward keenly to the appearance of their last work"
The Harvard Lampoon satire of The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
, entitled Bored of the Rings
Bored of the Rings
Bored of the Rings is the title of a paperback parody of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. This short novel was written by Henry N. Beard and Douglas C. Kenney, who later founded National Lampoon...
, deliberately used phony blurbs by deceased authors on the inside cover. One of the blurbs stated "One of the two or three books...", and nothing else.
In the 1980s, Spy Magazine ran a regular feature called "Logrolling
Logrolling
Logrolling is the trading of favors, or quid pro quo, such as vote trading by legislative members to obtain passage of actions of interest to each legislative member...
in Our Time" which exposed writers who wrote blurbs for one anothers' books.http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117932281.html?categoryid=1010&cs=1
External links
- "A Few Words About Blurbs", essay by Steve AlmondSteve AlmondSteve Almond is an American short story writer and essayist. He is the author of eight books.-Life:He was raised in Palo Alto, California, and graduated from Henry M. Gunn High School. He received his undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University. He spent seven years as a newspaper reporter,...
Sep.8 2003 - "To Blurb or Not to Blurb?", essay by Bill MorrisBill MorrisWilliam Manuel Morris, Baron Morris of Handsworth, OJ , generally known as Bill Morris, was general secretary of the Transport and General Workers' Union from 1992 to 2003, and the first black leader of a British trade union....
Feb.15 2011