Book info

• Title The Princess Bride
• Author William Goldman
• Year 1973
• Genre Fantasy

Beautiful, flaxen-haired Buttercup has fallen for Westley, the farm boy. When he departs to make his fortune, she vows never to love another. But when she hears that his ship has been captured by the Dread Pirate Roberts - who never leaves survivors - her heart is broken. Buttercup's charms draw the attention of the relentless Prince Humperdinck who wants a wife and will go to any lengths to make her his bride. But there are other plans afoot. Plans involving mercenaries, giants, criminal philosophers, villainous counts, and pirates. So begins one of modern storytelling's most beloved tales.

Thoughts

It took me a few false starts to really get going with this one, it’s such an odd start to a book. I often skip prefaces and introductions because they are usually big spoilers for the book ahead - written as though you know exactly what’s coming. For The Princess Bride, that’s the whole point!

There’s a story within a story, and it gets a bit confusing at times, particularly towards the end. I couldn’t really get my head round what was real, if any of it, and what wasn’t, but in the end I just gave up trying and enjoyed the tale.

The story of Buttercup and Westley is brilliant, and at first it feels like that is despite the interruptions from the author, but by the end I could see how they add to the joy. A great read, different and a style I wasn’t totally comfortable with, but fun nevertheless.

Rating: 4 / 5