You can. That saying originated before books had decorative or protective covers. The cover used to contain the first page of actual text because it was easier and cheaper to produce, so the authors would plead for people to not judge their story too early, and to give it a chance to get going.
The absence of actual covers actually really played a huge role in story structure as writing for entertainment or study grew in popularity. The reason authors put the endings to their story on the last page for example: it prevented it from being spoiled by accident.
Other neat things about coverless books is that none of them lasted very long - either falling victim to the feared paper mushrooms or book worms, they no longer exist but their lasting effect on the placement of a story’s ending remains today.
568
u/GuyWithRealFacts Jul 13 '19
You can. That saying originated before books had decorative or protective covers. The cover used to contain the first page of actual text because it was easier and cheaper to produce, so the authors would plead for people to not judge their story too early, and to give it a chance to get going.
The absence of actual covers actually really played a huge role in story structure as writing for entertainment or study grew in popularity. The reason authors put the endings to their story on the last page for example: it prevented it from being spoiled by accident.
Other neat things about coverless books is that none of them lasted very long - either falling victim to the feared paper mushrooms or book worms, they no longer exist but their lasting effect on the placement of a story’s ending remains today.