The back cover is also called the back cover or back cover.
The Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ), in its dictionary, defines back cover as the page that presents various details about a book, located in front of the cover. Also known as the back cover or back cover , it can be said to be the back of the cover .
The purpose of the back cover is to provide information about the work and, sometimes, about the author . Generally, it summarizes the plot of the book, telling the most important aspects of the plot. In some cases, a fragment of the work that is representative and that can generate interest in readers is even literally reproduced.
What is included in a back cover
Perhaps in the case of poetry books, the task of those who build the back cover is more difficult, in part because it is a less popular genre and, unfortunately, less valued by the public. While in a novel we have a plot to comment on and that, in general, is maintained throughout the entire book, poetry opens the doors to other possibilities, such as the creation of a set of works that may or may not have a common thread.
There are back covers that are focused on persuasion of the potential reader, inviting them to read or buy the book . To achieve this objective, they resort to argumentation.
As for the author's information that can be included on the back cover, it is common to present the most important information from his biography and mention other books he has written.
The back cover is important to attract the reader.
An example
Let's take the case of a hypothetical novel titled "The Mystery of the Old Abandoned Museum" , written by Juan Ferreyra de las Mercedes . On its back cover it indicates: «Miguel Buenaventura worked for five years at the San Jacinto Historical Museum. When the institution closed its doors, he emigrated from the city. Two decades later, Buenaventura returns to San Jacinto and decides to stop by the abandoned museum. To his surprise, he finds the door open. Man does not know that, upon crossing the threshold, his life will no longer be the same .
Closing this small synopsis in this way is perfect to encourage the potential reader to immerse themselves in the work, since they will surely want to know what happened to Miguel Buenaventura in that museum, why his life changes forever once he crosses the threshold .
Although the most important element of the external structure of a book is its cover, the back cover is also essential and often does not receive the appropriate "treatment" by publishers. We must not forget that many readers, when they pick up a book for the first time, immediately turn it over and read the back cover first.
Keys to a good back cover
To create an impressive back cover there are many tips, and perhaps the most general is not to overwhelm the reader with too much text ; During a visit to the bookstore , we don't always have a lot of time, and that's why a concise back cover can be perfect.
Of course, concision is not just about “writing little,” but it is about “writing what is essential.” To create a good back cover we must avoid photographs or paintings that make it difficult to read; The author's biography, for example, should be placed on the flap .
Although it may seem exaggerated, it is recommended not to include the title of the book on the back cover, since it is redundant if we take into account that it is already on the cover and that, most likely, the potential reader looks at it first. Something that can be very attractive and convincing is the opinion of a renowned person about the book.
It should be noted that the last page of a magazine , a newspaper and other similar publications is also called the back cover.