CREATIVE ALTERNATIVE TO A PREFACE

Sometimes a preface to your historical novel seems essential, but so often it can become a dumping ground for a backdrop. So why not freshen it up with an original and eye-catching approach that keeps the readers interested from the off? 
Here’s a suggestion: your protagonist begins Chapter One with a first-person account of why she’s in her current predicament. But, then, you don’t want to write the entire novel in first person, so during this brief monologue she delegates a chronicler, whose task is to give a third-person account of her activities. Fine, but that doesn’t exclude the omniscient third-person narrator, who will explain that the protagonist wants to read, say, the third entry on such and such a date.
In this way, you keep your narration fresh by subtly shifting P-o-V whenever you want and, huge bonus, you have done away with the Preface and begun Chapter One right from the start without sacrificing essential backdrop.
That was my latest experiment, but I can think of several variations on this theme. Talking about themes, I’ve always felt it essential to make the novel’s theme(s) clear in Chapter One. So that can also be included in a natural way by your protagonist (or narrator). 
Who better than your chronicler to describe your protagonist? After all, they have a close working relationship/friendship.
In my 40+ novels I think I’ve used a Preface three times, so maybe I can be accused of bias. I’m not keen on Prefaces, but can accept that when skilfully written by an expert writer they can be effective. But let’s be honest, how many times have we yawned through a Preface and wished we hadn’t chosen this book? I know at least one other who simply ignores the Prefce...but that's a pity.
If you are a Preface fan, please write to me and tell me why and how a novel gains from having one. I’d genuinely like to know. In my three exceptions it was because I couldn’t find the kind of creative alternative I’ve outlined above. Thanks for reading this far. JB.