When publishing this book, Nietzsche wrote to his editor saying Beyond Good and Evil is supposed to provide an "introduction to the background of Zarathustra". In a letter written to historian, professor and friend Jakob Burckhardt dated September 22, 1886, referring to Beyond Good and Evil, Nietzsche wrote "please read this book (even though it says the same things as my Zarathustra - only in a way that is different - very different)".