Exploring Author Dedications

Author dedications tell us more about the author than the little ‘about the author’ paragraph on that last page of any book. They can be sweet and sentimental, comedic and quirky and raise questions that make us go “huh?”

Truth be told I was always fascinated by these dedications even when I was younger – they were almost as fascinating as the book itself.  It made me consider the significance of the people in these dedications: why was this books dedicated to you? Will you relate to a character in the book? Or perhaps a theme? Sometimes there’s something so intimate about these dedications. When they’re written to a loved one in a different language or use a secret code or phrase, it’s like we’re being brought into an inside joke or moment between the dedicator and the dedicatee.

So, I thought deeply to myself: what are some of my favourite book dedications and what does the general community think? Let’s take a look.

CS Lewis The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

“I wrote this story for you, but when I began it, I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result, you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound you will be older still. But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. You can then take it down from some upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it. I shall probably be too deaf to hear, and too old to understand, a word you say, but I shall still be”.

I’m taking us way back to what I can safely assume was one of our childhood staples. Even if you’re not an avid reader, you would have heard of C S Lewis’ classic The Lion, the With and the Wardrobe or at least seen the movies.

Yes, this dedication is a sentimental message between a godfather and goddaughter, who I believe was one of the inspirations behind the book, or at least the character Lucy. But there’s something else about it. It’s got that intimate touch where we feel their bond and also a little sadness at the mention of the author and his goddaughter losing a part of that connection as he grows older. It’s as if this book is a testament to the strength of their bond and relationship.

The line “but some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again” struck me and made my heart swell – dare I say it made me a tad emotional? It’s because it touches on the idea that the love for fantasy and fairy tales is something we grow out of as we become eager tweens and moody teens, but then we find our way back to it as we get older.

It’s corny, I know, and sorry not sorry for those of you who cringed. In all seriousness this line and dedication solidified what I know to be true: books are timeless, but fantasy fiction will never leave those of us who were lucky enough to be sucked into their worlds.

It’s certainly an experience I hold true to myself. Parting with those “childish” fantasy books to then reunite with the genre years later to me ended up being one of the most healing experiences I’ve had so far.

Needless to say, it’s a magical dedication that goes beyond an intimate connection between two family members – and touches us as readers. It’s an indirect message to us so that that as you will.

Susan Dennard Truthwitch

“To my threadsister, Sarah”

Warning, this will not be the first time you’ll hear me talk about this author and the series. You can read my book review on the Witchlands series to find out why.

Anyways, this dedication is found in the first book of the series, and I thought: “who is this Sarah”? Well, it wasn’t until the book’s acknowledgment that I found this was none other than Sarah J Maas herself. So, in this dedication we have two powerhouse authors of the fantasy fiction genre interacting. But not only is this a dedication to another author who no doubt inspired Dennard, they are in her own words “threadsisters”.

For those who are unfamiliar with this term and theme that is number one throughout the series, threadsisters/brothers are essentially non-romantic soulmates. And let me tell you, that made me feel all sorts of happiness. Listen, I love the idea of soulmates. That one person who is destined to be yours: mind, body and soul. It’s great, it’s romantic and mushy but who doesn’t love the idea? But let me tell you what I love more, when these connections are strong, intimate and platonic.

I see these romantic soulmates and connections everywhere and no shade to them, I’m a sucker for them just as much as the next girl who as a child dreamed of being told she was the long-lost hero destined to save a hidden land (anyone else relate?). But now I believe this platonic bond is just as valuable and important as a romantic one. But you don’t see it as often so  when this dedication clicked, I felt like squealing. This is an official calling for more authors to give us these relationships (pretty please).

I think the reason why this is so significant is because it’s rare to find a romantic soulmate, and more so a platonic one. The dedication made me wonder if the two female protagonists, Safi and Iseult, were parallels of Dennard and Maas. If so, which is which?

Thea Guanzon Hurricane Wars

“For the rats”

Major disclaimer, I’m currently reading this book so this is one that I am yet to make sense of, but I couldn’t NOT talk about it. The only thought I had when began reading was “this is one of my favourite dedications”. Now whilst I can’t speak to the context of this dedication, on first glance it appears fun, light hearted and something to fondly shake your head to. As I’m reading, I keep thinking “when are these rats going to come in”.

I had so many questions: is this a reference to the book, are we as readers being called rats, is this an inside joke or maybe the author lost a bet with someone, and this is the consequence? Who knows! This is one thing I love about dedications: they can make us spiral into theories.

I won’t dwell on it any further until I’ve finished the book. But what I will say, is that it sure as anything makes me more intrigued to read the book.

Agatha Christie The Secret Adversary

“To all those who lead monotonous lives in the hope that they may experience at second hand the delights and dangers of adventure”.

This one made me chuckle because I think it’s a feeling anyone who would rather have their nose in a book than anything else, can relate to. Whether you like to be fighting dragons, solving murder mysteries in Edwardian England, or maybe you’d rather find yourself in a cheesy rom-com, you know this feeling.

Twice a week I make a 40-minute commute to work and in those 40 minutes I sit and read about magic kingdoms, scandalous betrayals, breath taking adventures and more. Then I get off my train and go to my day job. Don’t get me wrong, I like my job, but it’s a far cry away from the world I left behind when I shut my book on the train.

This dedication represents the idea that reading is a form of escapism. It takes us to worlds where we can be anything and maybe even learn something about ourselves. It offers us adventures beyond what is possible in this world. You know that a story and an author are special when they acknowledge this feeling and seek to give it to you.

Now, am I saying that if the sky split and dragons came out of it that I would hop on one and go slay down my enemies and help save the world? No. To be frank I would be hopeless and run in the other direction. But sometimes it’s nice to think that I wouldn’t, and I can read my book pretending I’d be the underdog turned hero.

There are so many book dedications out there, more than I can cover. But these are a few that I came across that lead me into a deep, dark spiral of thoughts. But let’s hear it for some honourable mentions that I found:

Ben Philippe The Field Guide to the North American Teenager

“To my mother Belzie: I would have made a terrible doctor, mom. People would have died.”

(me to mama)

George RR Martin A Song of Ice and Fire

“For Phyllis who made me put the dragons in”.

(you mean to tell me that we almost didn’t get the Mother of Dragons?!)

Rick Riordan The House of Hades

“To my wonderful readers,

Sorry about the last cliff hanger.

Well, no, not really. HAHAHAHA. But seriously, I love you guys.”

(I genuinely think when authors finish writing a cliff hanger, they sit back, sip their drink of choice, and smile at the frenzy they know they’re going to cause.)

Drop me an email with some of your favourite book dedications and thoughts on the matter. I’d love to hear it, and maybe pick that book up on my next splurge in Waterstones.