William Goldman’s The Princess Bride is an excellently written take on the traditional fairy tale. According to Goldman, he has abridged S. Morgenstern’s original tale of true love and high adventure, thereby improving the quality of the story. In reality, S. Morgenstern is a pen name used by Goldman to create a particular method in which to tell his tale.
Buttercup, who after many years of observing Westly in his role as the family farm hand, falls deeply in love with him. Westly, sensing a need to prove himself to Buttercup, quits his job as farm hand to make his fortune in America. Unfortunately, Westly’s ship never arrives in America.
On hearing the sad news, Buttercup vows never to love another, although she does agree to marry Prince Humperdinck in a marriage of convienence. And so begins the adventure of kidnapping, masked crusaders, fencing, fighting, romance and power, all while Buttercup struggles with her decisions.
This is clearly a page turner for anyone aged nine to ninety (just like those puzzles say) with more twists and turns than any other story I have read. If you need more proof that this is one book worth picking up, the edition I have is a 25th anniversary reprint, and the movie has millions of fans worldwide.
February 4, 2008 at 5:19 am
I heartily concur! The Princess Bride was also a classic screenplay — and one of my favorite movies. Just a delight in so many ways. William Goldman is a genius, in my book.
Karen Tintori, author
The Book of Names, w/Jill Gregory — a mystical Jewish thriller
Unto the Daughters: The Legacy of an Honor Killing in a Sicilian-American Family
http://www.karentintori.com