Avi writes:

I had a good friend whose name was Avon. He, like myself, was a writer. Avon, however, was a very slow writer, at least compared to me.

Once, when I was visiting him at his country home, I was teasing him about the slow place of his writing. “Avon,” I said, “I’m going to write a book to show the world how slow you are.”

So it was I sat down and started to write the book that became The End of the Beginning.

It helps to know that my birth name—the name I used before I acquired the name Avi—is Edward.

Some people find this book very wise. Others find it silly. I think it’s just funny.