“How the best book blurbs excite our brains”
The Guardian, 13 August 2022. An article about some of the best (and worst) book blurbs in publishing history
Usage
When you pick up a book in a bookshop and turn to the back cover, that's where you'll find the blurb. It's that short text that gives you an idea of the book's contents. It usually tells you a little about the main character(s) and introduces the storyline. It isn't a complete summary of the book, just a little taste of what's inside - something to tempt you to buy the book and start reading. By extension, the word "blurb" can also refer to the short quotations taken from reviews, or endorsements from fellow writers, which are often printed on the front or back covers. The blurb also appears on booksellers' websites and on promotional material.
The word "blurb" started off as a joke (see below) and is nicely reminiscent of the noises an excited publisher might make when praising a book. Sadly, the German translation, Klappentext, is rather dull in comparison.
Background
The word "blurb" sounds quite funny - and in fact, it was invented as a joke. In 1907, American writer Frank Gelett Burgess put a spoof text on the cover of his book, copying the enthusiastic style of publishers ("When you've READ this masterpiece, you'll know what a BOOK is."). He added the caption "YES, this is a BLURB!" and a picture of "Miss Belinda Blurb in the act of blurbing". The word may have started as a joke, but now it's part of everyday language.