feat: Add support for reading book title and authors before narration

abogen/web/conversion_runner.py

@@ -130,11 +130,98 @@ def _strip_duplicate_heading_line(text: str, heading: str) -> tuple[str, bool]:
                 removed = True
                 continue
         new_lines.append(line)
-    if not removed:
+        if not removed:
-        return source_text, False
+            return source_text, False
-    while new_lines and not new_lines[0].strip():
+        while new_lines and not new_lines[0].strip():
-        new_lines.pop(0)
+            new_lines.pop(0)
-    return "\n".join(new_lines), True
+        return "\n".join(new_lines), True
+
+def _normalize_metadata_map(values: Optional[Mapping[str, Any]]) -> Dict[str, str]:
+    normalized: Dict[str, str] = {}
+    if not values:
+        return normalized
+    for key, value in values.items():
+        if value is None:
+            continue
+        text = str(value).strip()
+        if not text:
+            continue
+        normalized[str(key).casefold()] = text
+    return normalized
+
+
+def _format_author_sentence(raw: Optional[str]) -> str:
+    if raw is None:
+        return ""
+    normalized = str(raw).strip()
+    if not normalized:
+        return ""
+    lowered = normalized.casefold()
+    if lowered in {"unknown", "various"}:
+        return ""
+
+    working = normalized.replace("&", " and ")
+    segments = [segment.strip() for segment in working.split(",") if segment.strip()]
+    tokens: List[str] = []
+
+    if segments:
+        for segment in segments:
+            parts = [part.strip() for part in re.split(r"\band\b", segment, flags=re.IGNORECASE) if part.strip()]
+            if parts:
+                tokens.extend(parts)
+            else:
+                tokens.append(segment)
+    else:
+        parts = [part.strip() for part in re.split(r"\band\b", working, flags=re.IGNORECASE) if part.strip()]
+        tokens.extend(parts or [normalized])
+
+    cleaned = [token for token in tokens if token and token.casefold() not in {"unknown", "various"}]
+    if not cleaned:
+        return ""
+    if len(cleaned) == 1:
+        return f"By {cleaned[0]}"
+    if len(cleaned) == 2:
+        return f"By {cleaned[0]} and {cleaned[1]}"
+    return f"By {', '.join(cleaned[:-1])}, and {cleaned[-1]}"
+
+
+def _ensure_sentence(text: str) -> str:
+    cleaned = text.strip()
+    if not cleaned:
+        return ""
+    if cleaned[-1] in ".!?":
+        return cleaned
+    return f"{cleaned}."
+
+
+def _build_title_intro_text(
+    metadata: Optional[Mapping[str, Any]],
+    fallback_basename: str,
+) -> str:
+    normalized = _normalize_metadata_map(metadata)
+    fallback_title = Path(fallback_basename).stem if fallback_basename else ""
+    title = normalized.get("title") or normalized.get("book_title") or normalized.get("album") or fallback_title
+    if not title:
+        title = fallback_title
+    subtitle = normalized.get("subtitle") or normalized.get("sub_title")
+    if subtitle and title and subtitle.casefold() == title.casefold():
+        subtitle = ""
+    author_value = ""
+    for candidate in ("artist", "album_artist", "author", "authors", "writer", "composer"):
+        value = normalized.get(candidate)
+        if value:
+            author_value = value
+            break
+
+    sentences: List[str] = []
+    if title:
+        sentences.append(_ensure_sentence(title))
+    if subtitle:
+        sentences.append(_ensure_sentence(subtitle))
+    author_sentence = _format_author_sentence(author_value)
+    if author_sentence:
+        sentences.append(_ensure_sentence(author_sentence))
+    return " ".join(sentences).strip()
 
 
 def _spec_to_voice_ids(spec: Any) -> Set[str]:
@@ -1050,6 +1137,16 @@ def run_conversion_job(job: Job) -> None:
             }
         job.add_log(f"Detected {total_chapters} chapter{'s' if total_chapters != 1 else ''}")
         auto_prefix_titles = getattr(job, "auto_prefix_chapter_titles", True)
+        read_title_intro = getattr(job, "read_title_intro", False)
+        book_intro_text = ""
+        if read_title_intro:
+            book_intro_text = _build_title_intro_text(job.metadata_tags, job.original_filename)
+            if book_intro_text:
+                preview = book_intro_text if len(book_intro_text) <= 120 else f"{book_intro_text[:117]}…"
+                job.add_log(f"Title intro enabled: {preview}", level="debug")
+            else:
+                job.add_log("Title intro enabled but no usable metadata was found.", level="debug")
+        intro_emitted = False
 
         def emit_text(
             text: str,
@@ -1192,6 +1289,21 @@ def run_conversion_job(job: Job) -> None:
                     if _headings_equivalent(first_line, heading_text) or (raw_title and _headings_equivalent(first_line, raw_title)):
                         remove_heading_from_body = True
 
+                if not intro_emitted and book_intro_text:
+                    intro_segments = emit_text(
+                        book_intro_text,
+                        voice_choice=voice_choice,
+                        chapter_sink=chapter_sink,
+                        preview_prefix="Book intro",
+                    )
+                    intro_emitted = True
+                    if intro_segments > 0 and job.chapter_intro_delay > 0:
+                        append_silence(
+                            job.chapter_intro_delay,
+                            include_in_chapter=True,
+                            chapter_sink=chapter_sink,
+                        )
+
                 if speak_heading:
                     heading_segments = emit_text(
                         heading_text,

abogen/web/routes.py

@@ -1528,6 +1528,21 @@ def _apply_prepare_form(
         else:
             pending.chapter_intro_delay = 0.0
 
+    intro_values: List[str] = []
+    getter = getattr(form, "getlist", None)
+    if callable(getter):
+        raw_intro_values = getter("read_title_intro")
+        if raw_intro_values:
+            intro_values = list(cast(Iterable[str], raw_intro_values))
+    else:
+        raw_intro = form.get("read_title_intro")
+        if raw_intro is not None:
+            intro_values = [raw_intro]
+    if intro_values:
+        pending.read_title_intro = _coerce_bool(intro_values[-1], pending.read_title_intro)
+    elif hasattr(form, "__contains__") and "read_title_intro" in form:
+        pending.read_title_intro = False
+
     overrides: List[Dict[str, Any]] = []
     selected_total = 0
 
@@ -1636,6 +1651,24 @@ def _apply_book_step_form(
         except ValueError:
             pass
 
+    intro_default = pending.read_title_intro if isinstance(pending.read_title_intro, bool) else bool(settings.get("read_title_intro", False))
+    intro_values: List[str] = []
+    getter = getattr(form, "getlist", None)
+    if callable(getter):
+        raw_intro_values = getter("read_title_intro")
+        if raw_intro_values:
+            intro_values = list(cast(Iterable[str], raw_intro_values))
+    else:
+        raw_intro_flag = form.get("read_title_intro")
+        if raw_intro_flag is not None:
+            intro_values = [raw_intro_flag]
+    if intro_values:
+        pending.read_title_intro = _coerce_bool(intro_values[-1], intro_default)
+    elif hasattr(form, "__contains__") and "read_title_intro" in form:
+        pending.read_title_intro = False
+    else:
+        pending.read_title_intro = intro_default
+
     speed_value = form.get("speed")
     if speed_value is not None:
         try:
@@ -1883,6 +1916,7 @@ BOOLEAN_SETTINGS = {
     "save_as_project",
     "generate_epub3",
     "enable_entity_recognition",
+    "read_title_intro",
     "auto_prefix_chapter_titles",
     "normalization_numbers",
     "normalization_titles",
@@ -1913,6 +1947,7 @@ def _settings_defaults() -> Dict[str, Any]:
         "separate_chapters_format": "wav",
         "silence_between_chapters": 2.0,
         "chapter_intro_delay": 0.5,
+    "read_title_intro": False,
         "max_subtitle_words": 50,
         "chunk_level": "paragraph",
         "enable_entity_recognition": True,
@@ -3375,6 +3410,7 @@ def enqueue_job() -> ResponseReturnValue:
     separate_chapters_format = settings["separate_chapters_format"]
     silence_between_chapters = settings["silence_between_chapters"]
     chapter_intro_delay = settings["chapter_intro_delay"]
+    read_title_intro = settings["read_title_intro"]
     max_subtitle_words = settings["max_subtitle_words"]
     auto_prefix_chapter_titles = settings["auto_prefix_chapter_titles"]
 
@@ -3442,6 +3478,7 @@ def enqueue_job() -> ResponseReturnValue:
         cover_image_path=cover_path,
         cover_image_mime=cover_mime,
         chapter_intro_delay=chapter_intro_delay,
+    read_title_intro=bool(read_title_intro),
         auto_prefix_chapter_titles=bool(auto_prefix_chapter_titles),
         chunk_level=chunk_level_value,
         speaker_mode=speaker_mode_value,
@@ -3722,6 +3759,7 @@ def finalize_job(pending_id: str) -> ResponseReturnValue:
         cover_image_path=pending.cover_image_path,
         cover_image_mime=pending.cover_image_mime,
         chapter_intro_delay=pending.chapter_intro_delay,
+    read_title_intro=pending.read_title_intro,
         auto_prefix_chapter_titles=getattr(pending, "auto_prefix_chapter_titles", True),
         chunk_level=pending.chunk_level,
         chunks=processed_chunks,

abogen/web/service.py

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ def _create_set_event() -> threading.Event:
     return event
 
 
-STATE_VERSION = 6
+STATE_VERSION = 7
 
 
 _JOB_LOGGER = logging.getLogger("abogen.jobs")
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ class Job:
     metadata_tags: Dict[str, str] = field(default_factory=dict)
     max_subtitle_words: int = 50
     chapter_intro_delay: float = 0.5
+    read_title_intro: bool = False
     auto_prefix_chapter_titles: bool = True
     status: JobStatus = JobStatus.PENDING
     started_at: Optional[float] = None
@@ -172,6 +173,7 @@ class Job:
                 "voice_profile": self.voice_profile,
                 "max_subtitle_words": self.max_subtitle_words,
                 "chapter_intro_delay": self.chapter_intro_delay,
+                "read_title_intro": getattr(self, "read_title_intro", False),
                 "auto_prefix_chapter_titles": getattr(self, "auto_prefix_chapter_titles", True),
             },
             "metadata_tags": dict(self.metadata_tags),
@@ -235,6 +237,7 @@ class PendingJob:
     cover_image_path: Optional[Path] = None
     cover_image_mime: Optional[str] = None
     chapter_intro_delay: float = 0.5
+    read_title_intro: bool = False
     auto_prefix_chapter_titles: bool = True
     chunk_level: str = "paragraph"
     chunks: List[Dict[str, Any]] = field(default_factory=list)
@@ -313,9 +316,10 @@ class ConversionService:
         max_subtitle_words: int = 50,
         metadata_tags: Optional[Mapping[str, Any]] = None,
         cover_image_path: Optional[Path] = None,
-        cover_image_mime: Optional[str] = None,
+            cover_image_mime: Optional[str] = None,
-        chapter_intro_delay: float = 0.5,
+            chapter_intro_delay: float = 0.5,
-    auto_prefix_chapter_titles: bool = True,
+            read_title_intro: bool = False,
+            auto_prefix_chapter_titles: bool = True,
         chunk_level: str = "paragraph",
         chunks: Optional[Iterable[Any]] = None,
         speakers: Optional[Mapping[str, Any]] = None,
@@ -362,6 +366,7 @@ class ConversionService:
             cover_image_path=cover_image_path,
             cover_image_mime=cover_image_mime,
             chapter_intro_delay=chapter_intro_delay,
+            read_title_intro=bool(read_title_intro),
             auto_prefix_chapter_titles=bool(auto_prefix_chapter_titles),
             chunk_level=chunk_level,
             chunks=normalized_chunks,
@@ -517,6 +522,7 @@ class ConversionService:
                 cover_image_path=job.cover_image_path,
                 cover_image_mime=job.cover_image_mime,
                 chapter_intro_delay=job.chapter_intro_delay,
+                read_title_intro=job.read_title_intro,
                 auto_prefix_chapter_titles=job.auto_prefix_chapter_titles,
                 chunk_level=job.chunk_level,
                 chunks=job.chunks,
@@ -743,6 +749,7 @@ class ConversionService:
             "cover_image_path": str(job.cover_image_path) if job.cover_image_path else None,
             "cover_image_mime": job.cover_image_mime,
             "chapter_intro_delay": job.chapter_intro_delay,
+            "read_title_intro": job.read_title_intro,
             "auto_prefix_chapter_titles": job.auto_prefix_chapter_titles,
             "chunk_level": job.chunk_level,
             "chunks": [dict(entry) for entry in job.chunks],
@@ -835,6 +842,7 @@ class ConversionService:
             metadata_tags=payload.get("metadata_tags", {}),
             max_subtitle_words=int(payload.get("max_subtitle_words", 50)),
             chapter_intro_delay=float(payload.get("chapter_intro_delay", 0.5)),
+            read_title_intro=bool(payload.get("read_title_intro", False)),
             auto_prefix_chapter_titles=bool(payload.get("auto_prefix_chapter_titles", True)),
         )
         job.status = JobStatus(payload.get("status", job.status.value))

abogen/web/templates/job_detail.html

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
         <li><strong>Separate chapter format:</strong> {{ job.separate_chapters_format|upper }}</li>
         <li><strong>Silence between chapters:</strong> {{ '%.1f'|format(job.silence_between_chapters) }}s</li>
         <li><strong>Chapter intro delay:</strong> {{ '%.1f'|format(job.chapter_intro_delay) }}s</li>
+  <li><strong>Title intro:</strong> {{ 'Yes' if job.read_title_intro else 'No' }}</li>
     <li><strong>Prefix chapter titles:</strong> {{ 'Yes' if job.auto_prefix_chapter_titles else 'No' }}</li>
         <li><strong>Max words per subtitle:</strong> {{ job.max_subtitle_words }}</li>
         <li><strong>Project folder:</strong> {{ 'Yes' if job.save_as_project else 'No' }}</li>

abogen/web/templates/partials/new_job_step_book.html

@@ -55,6 +55,16 @@
     {% set chapter_delay_value = settings_dict.get('chapter_intro_delay', 0.5) %}
   {% endif %}
 {% endif %}
+{% set read_intro_value = form_values.get('read_title_intro') if form_values else None %}
+{% if read_intro_value is not none %}
+  {% set read_title_intro = ((read_intro_value|string)|lower) in ['true', '1', 'yes', 'on'] %}
+{% else %}
+  {% if pending is not none %}
+    {% set read_title_intro = pending.read_title_intro %}
+  {% else %}
+    {% set read_title_intro = settings_dict.get('read_title_intro', False) %}
+  {% endif %}
+{% endif %}
 {% set selected_config = form_values.get('speaker_config') if form_values else None %}
 {% if selected_config is none %}
   {% if pending and pending.applied_speaker_config %}
@@ -265,6 +275,14 @@
           <input type="number" step="0.1" min="0" id="chapter_intro_delay" name="chapter_intro_delay" value="{{ '%.2f'|format(chapter_delay_value|float if chapter_delay_value is not none else 0.5) }}" {{ 'disabled' if readonly else '' }}>
           <p class="hint">Set to 0 to disable the pause after speaking each chapter title.</p>
         </div>
+        <div class="field field--stack">
+          <label class="toggle-pill">
+            <input type="hidden" name="read_title_intro" value="false">
+            <input type="checkbox" name="read_title_intro" value="true" {% if read_title_intro %}checked{% endif %} {{ 'disabled' if readonly else '' }}>
+            <span>Read title and authors before narration</span>
+          </label>
+          <p class="hint">When enabled, the narrator speaks the book title and author list before chapter one begins.</p>
+        </div>
       </div>
     </section>
   </div>

abogen/web/templates/partials/new_job_step_chapters.html

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
     <input type="hidden" name="chunk_level" value="{{ pending.chunk_level }}">
     <input type="hidden" name="speaker_analysis_threshold" value="{{ pending.speaker_analysis_threshold }}">
     <input type="hidden" name="chapter_intro_delay" value="{{ '%.2f'|format(pending.chapter_intro_delay) }}">
+    <input type="hidden" name="read_title_intro" value="{{ 'true' if pending.read_title_intro else 'false' }}">
     {% if pending.generate_epub3 %}
       <input type="hidden" name="generate_epub3" value="true">
     {% endif %}

abogen/web/templates/partials/new_job_step_entities.html

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
     <input type="hidden" name="chunk_level" value="{{ pending.chunk_level }}">
     <input type="hidden" name="speaker_analysis_threshold" value="{{ pending.speaker_analysis_threshold }}">
     <input type="hidden" name="chapter_intro_delay" value="{{ '%.2f'|format(pending.chapter_intro_delay) }}">
+    <input type="hidden" name="read_title_intro" value="{{ 'true' if pending.read_title_intro else 'false' }}">
     {% if pending.generate_epub3 %}
       <input type="hidden" name="generate_epub3" value="true">
     {% endif %}

abogen/web/templates/prepare_chapters.html

@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
         <input type="hidden" name="speaker_mode" value="{{ pending.speaker_mode }}">
         <input type="hidden" name="speaker_analysis_threshold" value="{{ pending.speaker_analysis_threshold }}">
         <input type="hidden" name="chapter_intro_delay" value="{{ '%.2f'|format(pending.chapter_intro_delay) }}">
+        <input type="hidden" name="read_title_intro" value="{{ 'true' if pending.read_title_intro else 'false' }}">
         {% if pending.generate_epub3 %}
           <input type="hidden" name="generate_epub3" value="true">
         {% endif %}

abogen/web/templates/settings.html

@@ -123,6 +123,13 @@
               <input type="number" step="0.1" min="0" id="chapter_intro_delay" name="chapter_intro_delay" value="{{ '%.2f'|format(settings.chapter_intro_delay) }}">
               <p class="hint">Inserted between the spoken chapter title and the chapter content. Set to 0 to disable.</p>
             </div>
+            <div class="field field--stack">
+              <label class="toggle-pill">
+                <input type="checkbox" name="read_title_intro" value="true" {% if settings.read_title_intro %}checked{% endif %}>
+                <span>Read Book Title Before Narration</span>
+              </label>
+              <p class="hint">When enabled, the narrator speaks the title, optional subtitle, and author names before chapter one.</p>
+            </div>
             <div class="field field--stack">
               <label class="toggle-pill">
                 <input type="checkbox" name="auto_prefix_chapter_titles" value="true" {% if settings.auto_prefix_chapter_titles %}checked{% endif %}>

tests/test_prepare_form.py

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ def _make_pending_job() -> PendingJob:
         metadata_tags={},
         chapters=[],
         created_at=0.0,
+        read_title_intro=False,
     )