Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book represents the first in-depth attempt to explore Gerard Genette's concept and its importance for translation studies research. It presents three case studies of paratexts in translation contexts, deliberately selecting genres that are relatively unexplored in existing translation studies research into paratexts. The book demonstrates the usefulness of paratexts for interrogating the discourses that surround the importation of scholarly works, combining this with a meta-reflection on the discipline of translation studies itself. It investigates the shift in paratexts around subtitled films in the UK, drawing on concepts developed in media studies. The book interrogates connections between authorised translations and paratextual relevance and explores the strategies used to claim or contest authorisation in the paratexts of philosophical translations.