I want to make sure I understand the differences between these (or maybe I don't 
) in reference to a novel.
All three come before the first chapter.
A prologue is usually part of the story that happens to take place in the past (example: it talks about an incident that happened when the MC was a child and then Chapter 1 starts with the MC as an adult and continues from there). It provides (fictional) information that should enhance the reader's enjoyment and understanding of the main story but the story could be read and enjoyed without it.
(Am I right so far??)
Now I start getting confused? I thought an introduction was when a person other than the writer writes about the writer. For example, I have a copy of Dicken's 'Bleak House'. It has an introduction written by a literature professor and it basically introduces the writer (Dickens) and tells us about his history and world, how the book was received when originally published, etc. etc. It's definitely non-fiction.
The same book also has a preface which was written by Dickens. He writes about the book but in a non-fiction way. As an example, he writes that 'spontaneous combustion' (which is a factor in the story) really does happen. (I have no idea if this is true - that spontaneous combustion really does happen - but it sounds like he's serious and reads like non-fiction.)
But I'm also looking at 'Jurassic Park' by Crichton. He also has an introduction but it combines non-fiction (information about biotechnology) and fiction (explains how InGen started cloning dinosaurs). But the whole thing reads like non-fiction.
So what exactly is the difference between an introduction and a preface? And is my understanding of a prologue correct?
) in reference to a novel.All three come before the first chapter.
A prologue is usually part of the story that happens to take place in the past (example: it talks about an incident that happened when the MC was a child and then Chapter 1 starts with the MC as an adult and continues from there). It provides (fictional) information that should enhance the reader's enjoyment and understanding of the main story but the story could be read and enjoyed without it.
(Am I right so far??)
Now I start getting confused? I thought an introduction was when a person other than the writer writes about the writer. For example, I have a copy of Dicken's 'Bleak House'. It has an introduction written by a literature professor and it basically introduces the writer (Dickens) and tells us about his history and world, how the book was received when originally published, etc. etc. It's definitely non-fiction.
The same book also has a preface which was written by Dickens. He writes about the book but in a non-fiction way. As an example, he writes that 'spontaneous combustion' (which is a factor in the story) really does happen. (I have no idea if this is true - that spontaneous combustion really does happen - but it sounds like he's serious and reads like non-fiction.)
But I'm also looking at 'Jurassic Park' by Crichton. He also has an introduction but it combines non-fiction (information about biotechnology) and fiction (explains how InGen started cloning dinosaurs). But the whole thing reads like non-fiction.
So what exactly is the difference between an introduction and a preface? And is my understanding of a prologue correct?
