Every now and then Hollywood produces a really wonderful movie, a modern classic. In my opinion, The Princess Bride absolutely qualifies. But I am here to argue that the book (which came first) is even better. While I love the movie, I think I enjoy the book even more.
What William Goldman presents is the “good parts version” of the original Princess Bride story by author S. Morgenstern. The story begins in the same way as the film, a man is telling the story of The Princess Bride to his son who is home sick from school. While he holds in his hands a large text by Morgenstern, he chooses to read aloud only the “good parts”. The boy, William Goldman, grows up to abridge the original text into what we are now about to read. This premise is, however, entirely fictional, so don’t try to find the original Morgenstern if for some reason you want to read the “bad parts” too. Footnotes throughout the book reference elements from Morgenstern’s original work, and the author’s reasons for their omission, and offer witty commentary which contributes to the fantasy of the work.
The Princess Bride is the story of Buttercup, the most beautiful woman in the world, and her true love Westley. They are separated when he goes off to seek his fortune, and when news arrives that he has succumbed to the Dread Pirate Roberts she grieves for him. Vowing never to love again, she agrees to marry Prince Humperdinck, because while he wants the most beautiful woman in the world for a wife, he does not desire her love. As Buttercup and Humperdinck prepare for their wedding, Buttercup is kidnapped by a giant, a Spaniard, and a Sicilian. A mysterious man in black rescues her from their clutches, and it is then that she learns what truly happened to her beloved Westley.
You cannot ask for more than what Goldman’s father explains can be found in the story of The Princess Bride: “Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True love. Hate. Revenge. Giants. Hunters. Bad men. Good men. Beautiful ladies. Snakes. Spiders. Beasts of all natures and descriptions. Pain. Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passion. Miracles.”, all found in book with nothing but “good parts”.
Check the WRL catalog for the availability of The Princess Bride.
The book was wonderful. The movie was wonderful. If you enjoyed the movie, you will also enjoy the recent movie, Stardust.
[…] the Dread Pirate Roberts, and Cary Elwes), is a tribute to the people who took William Goldman’s The Princess Bride from page to screen. If ever you told someone to “have fun storming the castle,” introduced […]