afterword
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afterword
A text at the end of a book, often written by someone other than the author, that comments on, contextualizes, or interprets the work.
Das Nachwort des Literaturkritikers half mir, die historischen Bezüge des Romans besser zu verstehen.
The literary critic's afterword helped me better understand the novel's historical references.
The word is composed of the prefix 'nach-' (after) and 'Wort' (word). So it literally refers to a text that comes 'nach' (after) the actual main text of a book.
Das Nachwort gibt oft interessante Einblicke in die Entstehungsgeschichte des Werkes.
The afterword often provides interesting insights into the work's history of creation.
Common phrases are 'ein Nachwort verfassen' (to write an afterword), 'ein Nachwort lesen' (to read an afterword), or 'etwas im Nachwort erklären' (to explain something in the afterword). It is also often stated who wrote it, e.g. 'das Nachwort des Herausgebers' (the editor's afterword).
Ein bekannter Historiker hat das Nachwort für die Neuauflage geschrieben.
A well-known historian wrote the afterword for the new edition.
The term 'Nachwort' (afterword) is used almost exclusively in connection with books and literary works. It is the concluding part of a book.
Am Ende des Romans fand ich ein sehr erhellendes Nachwort.
At the end of the novel, I found a very illuminating afterword.
introduction / initiation
'Einleitung' and 'Nachwort' both belong to texts or books, but they appear in opposite places. The 'Einleitung' is at the beginning and introduces the topic. The 'Nachwort' is at the end of a book and often comments on or explains the work again from a later perspective. They can be confused because neither necessarily belongs to the main part. The simple guide is: the introduction prepares you for reading, while the afterword comes after reading.
Im Nachwort beschreibt die Herausgeberin, warum der Roman heute noch wichtig ist.
In the afterword, the editor describes why the novel is still important today.
Vor dem Hauptteil erklärt die Einleitung, worum es in dem Buch geht.
Before the main section, the introduction explains what the book is about.