Anyone who lived through the 1980s may find it impossible—inconceivable, even—to equate The Princess Bride with anything other than the sweet, celluloid romance of Westley and Buttercup, but the film is only a fraction of the ingenious storytelling you’ll find in these pages. Rich in character and satire, the novel is set in 1941 and framed cleverly as an “abridged” retelling of a centuries-old … centuries-old tale set in the fabled country of Florin that’s home to “Beasts of all natures and descriptions. Pain. Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passions.”
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The movie was so very awesome but the book was even better. As I was listening to this book I couldn’t help but to imagine what was going on at the time of the movie.
We all know this story is one of the best out there, the book just makes it better
Wish there was more
The Princess Bride has been one of my favorite movies for decades. The book has been languishing on my bookshelf for nearly as long. While what makes the film great is there, numerous extraneous tangents and long expository interludes ruin the book’s flow and destroy the experience.
Read my full …
A true classic
I look forward to the day when education has at last established good manners and literary studies can truly become inclusive.
Take my own university, for example. Every Thursday, we get together for lunch to discuss books on the balcony of the faculty club on the 5th floor of Markstein Hall. One of our faculty had the good fortune to study …
One of the funniest books ever!
William Goldman has written some amazing books. But this one is a true classic. Let’s start with the introduction–what?! Yes, even the introduction, with a story about why this book is such a classic for the author is amazing. It’s at times funny, heartrending, and totally not true. It is the perfect beginning for one of the most wacky, …
Enjoy the movie instead.
Everyone has seen the movie, but it seems that many people have not read Goldman’s book, which is every bit as entertaining and funny. I recommend it for everyone…it is inconceivable that you won’t love it!
I first read this book in the sixth grade, so it has a special place in my heart. At once funny, tragic, and jam-packed with thrills, this is a story like no other.
The book is even better than the movie.
The Princess Bride is still one of my all time favorite stories, even after multiple re-readings! An enjoyable romp through a wonderful world inhabited with creative characters!
It’s a classic. Just read it, especially if you like sarcasm or fairy tales.
What a fantastic book. A great novel that inspired a great movie.
I definitely enjoyed reading this book, but I was not a big fan of Goldman’s authorial instruction during the actual story. It was still very well written though and an excellent read.
I read this book to my daughters when they were in 6th grade. We laughed at all the funny takes in each chapter. Now that my daughter is grown, I bought her the 25th anniversary copy of the book. Reading about Fezzik, Inigo Montoya and his quest for revenge, Humperdinck’s courting of Buttercup is funny beyond funny. Too bad the movie wasn’t as …
A funny storybook tale for everyone to enjoy!
The Princess Bride is my all-time favorite movie and book. William Goldman has made a story so amazing that it should be a classic read. If there is one book that everyone should read, this is it. The story is so convincing that the first time I read this book I spent weeks trying to find the unabridged version cited in the book itself, but sadly …
Are you kidding? who would not love this book?
This is the ultimate love story. It’s hard to separate the book from the movie; they are so closely intertwined.