New Word Today

As readers of this blog know - at least those who check out my links in the right-hand column - I am an avid reader of classic mystery novels and a fan of their authors. Consequently, when I discovered that there is a volume of biographical and literary essays about Ngaio Marsh, published on the hundredth anniversary of her birth, I bought it.

And, on the second page of the introduction, I was informed by the author/editor, that this book is a festschrift.

A WHAT?

Festschrift.

According to bibliomania.net, a festschrift is "A complimentary or memorial publication in the form of a collection of essays, addresses, or biographical, bibliographical, scientific or other contributions, often embodying the results of research, issued in honor of a person, an institution or a society, and usually on the occasion of an anniversary celebration."

Now you know.

There aren't a whole lot of opportunities to use festschrift in everyday conversation, so I thought I'd share it here...