Examines the stories behind the dedications in fifty literary classics, discussing each author, as well as the social and historical context in which each book was first published, and covering such works as Shelley's Frankenstein, Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, and Dostoyevsky's The Brothers Karamazov.

"In the collection Once Again to Zelda — the title comes from the words F. Scott Fitzgerald inscribed to his wife in the The Great Gatsby— Ms. Wagman-Geller investigates 50 such dedications, in literal-minded yet absorbing chapters that untangle densely knotted lives. "
–  Liesl Schillinger, The New York Times

"The book is not a collection of fairy tales; each chapter recounts the whole arc of couple's romance right up to its loving - or disastrous - end. The stories are littered with divorce, betrayal and disillusionment, but also with wonder at the impact two people can have on each other."
–  Ellen McCarthy, The Washington Post on Once Again to Zelda

"If you have ever wondered about the people mentioned in the author dedications of your favorite books, you may find an answer here. Curious about the dedication in Grace Metalious's Peyton Place, author and teacher Wagman-Geller began delving into the author's history and the background of numerous other authors. Through her research, she discovered the stories behind the dedications in over 50 well-known books. Was Mrs. Samuel Clemens a prototype for Mark Twain's Aunt Sally in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn? Was Harry Potter based in part on a local bully? And how did Amy Tan's mother's Alzheimer's trigger the author's own memory? This collection of intriguing accounts about the people behind the books speaks to the idea that truth is stranger and far more complex than the fiction it spawns. Wagman-Geller has done extensive research on each author and provides a generous list of references. Recommended for public libraries.
— Nedra Crowe-Evers, Library Journal