First published well, in 1973 actually, this book spawned the Rob Reiner-directed cult film of the same name. It's a tongue-in-cheek fairytale of love, life, action, death and life again. Featuring the obligatory handsome Prince and supremely beautiful princess, it also boasts a Spanish sword wizard, the Zoo of Death, a chocolate-coated resurrection pill and lots of villains, who span the spectrum from evil, through even more evil to (gasp) most evil. And then there's Fezzik, the gentle giant addicted to rhyming.

William Goldman--who's won two Oscars for his screenwriting (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and All the President's Men), and has endeared himself to dentists and their patients planetwide through his novel Marathon Man--has always claimed he merely abridged this text, extracting the "good parts" from an inventive yet wordy classic by Florinese literary superstar, S Morgenstern.

It has, however, been whispered in certain circles that Morgenstern himself is a figment of Goldman's ultra-fertile imagination. Read Goldman's original and special Anniversary introductions and make up your own mind. Oh--and don't forget his explanation as to why he's only "abridged" the first chapter of the sequel Buttercup's Baby--which appears here for the first time--and why it took him so long to get round to it.

Completely delightful, suitable for cynics and romantics alike. Suspension of disbelief optional. -- Lisa Gee

My new favourite book, 10 Sep 2008
I've never seen the film but I kept picking this up in bookshops and almost buying it so I thought I'd give it a chance. I took it on holiday with me and, to use a cliche, I couldn't put it down. I had to be dragged to dinner! Everything has a twist to it, which makes it that much more interesting, and I loved the mix of action, romance, comedy and sheer imagination. If you are considering buying this, it's worth knowing that William Goldman 'interrupts' the narrative quite a lot (and definitely read the introduction/prologue) but he's funny and it's a good way of building up tension so you really want to read on. I'm making all my friends read it so I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a new favourite book.

Original Version?, 09 Sep 2008
I couldn't seem to find a proper forum to ask this question in, so perhaps somebody here can help me. I'm looking for the original, UNABRIDGED version of this book. Even though I absolutely adore Goldman's abridgement, and his funny little notes that go along with it, I've been wanting to read the full version for a while now. Does anyone know where I could pick up a copy?

This Is My "If you were trapped on a desert island and can only take one book" Book, 01 Jul 2008
This is one of the very best books I've ever read.

A friend of mine who doesn't read had told me to watch the movie years ago, and I had politely nodded and told him that I would look into it, but all along was thinking "Princess Bride? CHICK FLICK!! No way am I going to bother with that." Years later I was moseying through one of my favourite book stores and saw the book on display there with a rapturous "Staff favourite" mini-review underneath it. I didn't have any pressing reads at the time, so picked it up alongside a few other books.

When I did eventually get around to opening it, I had two or three laugh out loud moments in the first twenty pages, and didn't put the book down until I'd finished it, other than to send a text message to my friend half way through to tell him that it was the best book I'd ever read.

The story is of the great love between Buttercup (the beautifulest girl in the world) and Westley (a farm boy with some surprising talents). There are pirates, torture, giants, ROUS's, a battle of wits to the death, sword fights, the BEST kissing scene imaginable, miracles...

I have bought this book for so many people, all of whom have (at the very least) liked it, and am hanging out for my niece to turn old enough to appreciate me reading it to her.

Pick it up and enjoy yourself!

An honest, old-fashioned adventure with a metafictional twist, 24 Sep 2007
The Princess Bride is an honest and old-fashioned adventure. The bride of the title is Buttercup, the most beautiful girl in the world, soon to be married to Prince Humperdinck - too bad she's in love with Westley, the farm boy. Before you reach the end, you've come to know an evil Sicilian criminal mastermind, a Spanish fencing wizard, a gentle Turkish giant and many other memorable characters.

It's not just a funny adventure, there's an additional metafictional level. As the story goes, William Goldman didn't write the book: it's an abridgement of a book written by S. Morgenstern. Every now and then Goldman pops in the story, interrupts and discusses some details of Morgenstern's work he disagrees with and has cut off. I'm fairly sure some people will dislike that, but to me, it was the thing that made Princess Bride shine.

It was good, but not spectacular - I don't quite get the amazingly good reviews at Amazon, for example. It was funny, definitely, but not hilarious. The book is oozing good one-liners, that I admit. So, if you're looking for adventure, romance and excitement, The Princess Bride is certainly a good choice.

Can you abridge an 'abridgement'?, 24 Sep 2007
This would have been a wonderful book if we could cut out the author and his drivel. He's rude about his then wife, his father, his son, Steven King. You have to wade through an ego trip at the beginning and the end and intervals throughout. He even acknowledges that all the parenthesis is annoying and that he was told to edit it out, but he's left it in!!! Every other paragraph, 'this was before blah but after blah'. It is infuriating!!! It is such a shame because there are parts of the story itself that are so beautifully written I could cry. I suppose I shall just have to hold Cary Elwes and Robin Wright close to my heart instead. Skip the book, watch the movie!

First published well, in 1973 actually, this book spawned the Rob Reiner-directed cult film of the same name. It's a tongue-in-cheek fairytale of love, life, action, death and life again. Featuring the obligatory handsome Prince and supremely beautiful princess, it also boasts a Spanish sword wizard, the Zoo of Death, a chocolate-coated resurrection pill and lots of villains, who span the spectrum from evil, through even more evil to (gasp) most evil. And then there's Fezzik, the gentle giant addicted to rhyming.

William Goldman--who's won two Oscars for his screenwriting (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and All the President's Men), and has endeared himself to dentists and their patients planetwide through his novel Marathon Man--has always claimed he merely abridged this text, extracting the "good parts" from an inventive yet wordy classic by Florinese literary superstar, S Morgenstern.

It has, however, been whispered in certain circles that Morgenstern himself is a figment of Goldman's ultra-fertile imagination. Read Goldman's original and special Anniversary introductions and make up your own mind. Oh--and don't forget his explanation as to why he's only "abridged" the first chapter of the sequel Buttercup's Baby--which appears here for the first time--and why it took him so long to get round to it.

Completely delightful, suitable for cynics and romantics alike. Suspension of disbelief optional. -- Lisa Gee

My new favourite book, 10 Sep 2008
I've never seen the film but I kept picking this up in bookshops and almost buying it so I thought I'd give it a chance. I took it on holiday with me and, to use a cliche, I couldn't put it down. I had to be dragged to dinner! Everything has a twist to it, which makes it that much more interesting, and I loved the mix of action, romance, comedy and sheer imagination. If you are considering buying this, it's worth knowing that William Goldman 'interrupts' the narrative quite a lot (and definitely read the introduction/prologue) but he's funny and it's a good way of building up tension so you really want to read on. I'm making all my friends read it so I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a new favourite book.

Original Version?, 09 Sep 2008
I couldn't seem to find a proper forum to ask this question in, so perhaps somebody here can help me. I'm looking for the original, UNABRIDGED version of this book. Even though I absolutely adore Goldman's abridgement, and his funny little notes that go along with it, I've been wanting to read the full version for a while now. Does anyone know where I could pick up a copy?

This Is My "If you were trapped on a desert island and can only take one book" Book, 01 Jul 2008
This is one of the very best books I've ever read.

A friend of mine who doesn't read had told me to watch the movie years ago, and I had politely nodded and told him that I would look into it, but all along was thinking "Princess Bride? CHICK FLICK!! No way am I going to bother with that." Years later I was moseying through one of my favourite book stores and saw the book on display there with a rapturous "Staff favourite" mini-review underneath it. I didn't have any pressing reads at the time, so picked it up alongside a few other books.

When I did eventually get around to opening it, I had two or three laugh out loud moments in the first twenty pages, and didn't put the book down until I'd finished it, other than to send a text message to my friend half way through to tell him that it was the best book I'd ever read.

The story is of the great love between Buttercup (the beautifulest girl in the world) and Westley (a farm boy with some surprising talents). There are pirates, torture, giants, ROUS's, a battle of wits to the death, sword fights, the BEST kissing scene imaginable, miracles...

I have bought this book for so many people, all of whom have (at the very least) liked it, and am hanging out for my niece to turn old enough to appreciate me reading it to her.

Pick it up and enjoy yourself!

An honest, old-fashioned adventure with a metafictional twist, 24 Sep 2007
The Princess Bride is an honest and old-fashioned adventure. The bride of the title is Buttercup, the most beautiful girl in the world, soon to be married to Prince Humperdinck - too bad she's in love with Westley, the farm boy. Before you reach the end, you've come to know an evil Sicilian criminal mastermind, a Spanish fencing wizard, a gentle Turkish giant and many other memorable characters.

It's not just a funny adventure, there's an additional metafictional level. As the story goes, William Goldman didn't write the book: it's an abridgement of a book written by S. Morgenstern. Every now and then Goldman pops in the story, interrupts and discusses some details of Morgenstern's work he disagrees with and has cut off. I'm fairly sure some people will dislike that, but to me, it was the thing that made Princess Bride shine.

It was good, but not spectacular - I don't quite get the amazingly good reviews at Amazon, for example. It was funny, definitely, but not hilarious. The book is oozing good one-liners, that I admit. So, if you're looking for adventure, romance and excitement, The Princess Bride is certainly a good choice.

Can you abridge an 'abridgement'?, 24 Sep 2007
This would have been a wonderful book if we could cut out the author and his drivel. He's rude about his then wife, his father, his son, Steven King. You have to wade through an ego trip at the beginning and the end and intervals throughout. He even acknowledges that all the parenthesis is annoying and that he was told to edit it out, but he's left it in!!! Every other paragraph, 'this was before blah but after blah'. It is infuriating!!! It is such a shame because there are parts of the story itself that are so beautifully written I could cry. I suppose I shall just have to hold Cary Elwes and Robin Wright close to my heart instead. Skip the book, watch the movie!

My new favourite book, 10 Sep 2008
I've never seen the film but I kept picking this up in bookshops and almost buying it so I thought I'd give it a chance. I took it on holiday with me and, to use a cliche, I couldn't put it down. I had to be dragged to dinner! Everything has a twist to it, which makes it that much more interesting, and I loved the mix of action, romance, comedy and sheer imagination. If you are considering buying this, it's worth knowing that William Goldman 'interrupts' the narrative quite a lot (and definitely read the introduction/prologue) but he's funny and it's a good way of building up tension so you really want to read on. I'm making all my friends read it so I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a new favourite book.

Original Version?, 09 Sep 2008
I couldn't seem to find a proper forum to ask this question in, so perhaps somebody here can help me. I'm looking for the original, UNABRIDGED version of this book. Even though I absolutely adore Goldman's abridgement, and his funny little notes that go along with it, I've been wanting to read the full version for a while now. Does anyone know where I could pick up a copy?

This Is My "If you were trapped on a desert island and can only take one book" Book, 01 Jul 2008
This is one of the very best books I've ever read.

A friend of mine who doesn't read had told me to watch the movie years ago, and I had politely nodded and told him that I would look into it, but all along was thinking "Princess Bride? CHICK FLICK!! No way am I going to bother with that." Years later I was moseying through one of my favourite book stores and saw the book on display there with a rapturous "Staff favourite" mini-review underneath it. I didn't have any pressing reads at the time, so picked it up alongside a few other books.

When I did eventually get around to opening it, I had two or three laugh out loud moments in the first twenty pages, and didn't put the book down until I'd finished it, other than to send a text message to my friend half way through to tell him that it was the best book I'd ever read.

The story is of the great love between Buttercup (the beautifulest girl in the world) and Westley (a farm boy with some surprising talents). There are pirates, torture, giants, ROUS's, a battle of wits to the death, sword fights, the BEST kissing scene imaginable, miracles...

I have bought this book for so many people, all of whom have (at the very least) liked it, and am hanging out for my niece to turn old enough to appreciate me reading it to her.

Pick it up and enjoy yourself!

An honest, old-fashioned adventure with a metafictional twist, 24 Sep 2007
The Princess Bride is an honest and old-fashioned adventure. The bride of the title is Buttercup, the most beautiful girl in the world, soon to be married to Prince Humperdinck - too bad she's in love with Westley, the farm boy. Before you reach the end, you've come to know an evil Sicilian criminal mastermind, a Spanish fencing wizard, a gentle Turkish giant and many other memorable characters.

It's not just a funny adventure, there's an additional metafictional level. As the story goes, William Goldman didn't write the book: it's an abridgement of a book written by S. Morgenstern. Every now and then Goldman pops in the story, interrupts and discusses some details of Morgenstern's work he disagrees with and has cut off. I'm fairly sure some people will dislike that, but to me, it was the thing that made Princess Bride shine.

It was good, but not spectacular - I don't quite get the amazingly good reviews at Amazon, for example. It was funny, definitely, but not hilarious. The book is oozing good one-liners, that I admit. So, if you're looking for adventure, romance and excitement, The Princess Bride is certainly a good choice.

Can you abridge an 'abridgement'?, 24 Sep 2007
This would have been a wonderful book if we could cut out the author and his drivel. He's rude about his then wife, his father, his son, Steven King. You have to wade through an ego trip at the beginning and the end and intervals throughout. He even acknowledges that all the parenthesis is annoying and that he was told to edit it out, but he's left it in!!! Every other paragraph, 'this was before blah but after blah'. It is infuriating!!! It is such a shame because there are parts of the story itself that are so beautifully written I could cry. I suppose I shall just have to hold Cary Elwes and Robin Wright close to my heart instead. Skip the book, watch the movie!

My new favourite book, 10 Sep 2008
I've never seen the film but I kept picking this up in bookshops and almost buying it so I thought I'd give it a chance. I took it on holiday with me and, to use a cliche, I couldn't put it down. I had to be dragged to dinner! Everything has a twist to it, which makes it that much more interesting, and I loved the mix of action, romance, comedy and sheer imagination. If you are considering buying this, it's worth knowing that William Goldman 'interrupts' the narrative quite a lot (and definitely read the introduction/prologue) but he's funny and it's a good way of building up tension so you really want to read on. I'm making all my friends read it so I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a new favourite book.

Original Version?, 09 Sep 2008
I couldn't seem to find a proper forum to ask this question in, so perhaps somebody here can help me. I'm looking for the original, UNABRIDGED version of this book. Even though I absolutely adore Goldman's abridgement, and his funny little notes that go along with it, I've been wanting to read the full version for a while now. Does anyone know where I could pick up a copy?

This Is My "If you were trapped on a desert island and can only take one book" Book, 01 Jul 2008
This is one of the very best books I've ever read.

A friend of mine who doesn't read had told me to watch the movie years ago, and I had politely nodded and told him that I would look into it, but all along was thinking "Princess Bride? CHICK FLICK!! No way am I going to bother with that." Years later I was moseying through one of my favourite book stores and saw the book on display there with a rapturous "Staff favourite" mini-review underneath it. I didn't have any pressing reads at the time, so picked it up alongside a few other books.

When I did eventually get around to opening it, I had two or three laugh out loud moments in the first twenty pages, and didn't put the book down until I'd finished it, other than to send a text message to my friend half way through to tell him that it was the best book I'd ever read.

The story is of the great love between Buttercup (the beautifulest girl in the world) and Westley (a farm boy with some surprising talents). There are pirates, torture, giants, ROUS's, a battle of wits to the death, sword fights, the BEST kissing scene imaginable, miracles...

I have bought this book for so many people, all of whom have (at the very least) liked it, and am hanging out for my niece to turn old enough to appreciate me reading it to her.

Pick it up and enjoy yourself!

An honest, old-fashioned adventure with a metafictional twist, 24 Sep 2007
The Princess Bride is an honest and old-fashioned adventure. The bride of the title is Buttercup, the most beautiful girl in the world, soon to be married to Prince Humperdinck - too bad she's in love with Westley, the farm boy. Before you reach the end, you've come to know an evil Sicilian criminal mastermind, a Spanish fencing wizard, a gentle Turkish giant and many other memorable characters.

It's not just a funny adventure, there's an additional metafictional level. As the story goes, William Goldman didn't write the book: it's an abridgement of a book written by S. Morgenstern. Every now and then Goldman pops in the story, interrupts and discusses some details of Morgenstern's work he disagrees with and has cut off. I'm fairly sure some people will dislike that, but to me, it was the thing that made Princess Bride shine.

It was good, but not spectacular - I don't quite get the amazingly good reviews at Amazon, for example. It was funny, definitely, but not hilarious. The book is oozing good one-liners, that I admit. So, if you're looking for adventure, romance and excitement, The Princess Bride is certainly a good choice.

Can you abridge an 'abridgement'?, 24 Sep 2007
This would have been a wonderful book if we could cut out the author and his drivel. He's rude about his then wife, his father, his son, Steven King. You have to wade through an ego trip at the beginning and the end and intervals throughout. He even acknowledges that all the parenthesis is annoying and that he was told to edit it out, but he's left it in!!! Every other paragraph, 'this was before blah but after blah'. It is infuriating!!! It is such a shame because there are parts of the story itself that are so beautifully written I could cry. I suppose I shall just have to hold Cary Elwes and Robin Wright close to my heart instead. Skip the book, watch the movie!

My new favourite book, 10 Sep 2008
I've never seen the film but I kept picking this up in bookshops and almost buying it so I thought I'd give it a chance. I took it on holiday with me and, to use a cliche, I couldn't put it down. I had to be dragged to dinner! Everything has a twist to it, which makes it that much more interesting, and I loved the mix of action, romance, comedy and sheer imagination. If you are considering buying this, it's worth knowing that William Goldman 'interrupts' the narrative quite a lot (and definitely read the introduction/prologue) but he's funny and it's a good way of building up tension so you really want to read on. I'm making all my friends read it so I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a new favourite book.

Original Version?, 09 Sep 2008
I couldn't seem to find a proper forum to ask this question in, so perhaps somebody here can help me. I'm looking for the original, UNABRIDGED version of this book. Even though I absolutely adore Goldman's abridgement, and his funny little notes that go along with it, I've been wanting to read the full version for a while now. Does anyone know where I could pick up a copy?

This Is My "If you were trapped on a desert island and can only take one book" Book, 01 Jul 2008
This is one of the very best books I've ever read.

A friend of mine who doesn't read had told me to watch the movie years ago, and I had politely nodded and told him that I would look into it, but all along was thinking "Princess Bride? CHICK FLICK!! No way am I going to bother with that." Years later I was moseying through one of my favourite book stores and saw the book on display there with a rapturous "Staff favourite" mini-review underneath it. I didn't have any pressing reads at the time, so picked it up alongside a few other books.

When I did eventually get around to opening it, I had two or three laugh out loud moments in the first twenty pages, and didn't put the book down until I'd finished it, other than to send a text message to my friend half way through to tell him that it was the best book I'd ever read.

The story is of the great love between Buttercup (the beautifulest girl in the world) and Westley (a farm boy with some surprising talents). There are pirates, torture, giants, ROUS's, a battle of wits to the death, sword fights, the BEST kissing scene imaginable, miracles...

I have bought this book for so many people, all of whom have (at the very least) liked it, and am hanging out for my niece to turn old enough to appreciate me reading it to her.

Pick it up and enjoy yourself!

An honest, old-fashioned adventure with a metafictional twist, 24 Sep 2007
The Princess Bride is an honest and old-fashioned adventure. The bride of the title is Buttercup, the most beautiful girl in the world, soon to be married to Prince Humperdinck - too bad she's in love with Westley, the farm boy. Before you reach the end, you've come to know an evil Sicilian criminal mastermind, a Spanish fencing wizard, a gentle Turkish giant and many other memorable characters.

It's not just a funny adventure, there's an additional metafictional level. As the story goes, William Goldman didn't write the book: it's an abridgement of a book written by S. Morgenstern. Every now and then Goldman pops in the story, interrupts and discusses some details of Morgenstern's work he disagrees with and has cut off. I'm fairly sure some people will dislike that, but to me, it was the thing that made Princess Bride shine.

It was good, but not spectacular - I don't quite get the amazingly good reviews at Amazon, for example. It was funny, definitely, but not hilarious. The book is oozing good one-liners, that I admit. So, if you're looking for adventure, romance and excitement, The Princess Bride is certainly a good choice.

Can you abridge an 'abridgement'?, 24 Sep 2007
This would have been a wonderful book if we could cut out the author and his drivel. He's rude about his then wife, his father, his son, Steven King. You have to wade through an ego trip at the beginning and the end and intervals throughout. He even acknowledges that all the parenthesis is annoying and that he was told to edit it out, but he's left it in!!! Every other paragraph, 'this was before blah but after blah'. It is infuriating!!! It is such a shame because there are parts of the story itself that are so beautifully written I could cry. I suppose I shall just have to hold Cary Elwes and Robin Wright close to my heart instead. Skip the book, watch the movie!

IS IT SAFE?..., 22 Nov 2007
This is an excellent spy thriller filled with international intrigue and double-dealing characters. It leaves one wondering just who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. While it sometimes seems a little dated in parts, the book will not fail to capture the imagination of the reader with its intricate plot, clever characters, and humor. Written in a straightforward, cogent style, this book was made into a major motion picture that starred Dustin Hoffman and was a big hit in its day.

Thomas Babington Levy, known as "Babe" to his family, is a Rhodes Scholar, a graduate student historian at Columbia University, and an amateur marathon runner. He has a wealthy older brother, Henry David Levy, whom he affectionately calls "Doc" and believes to be a successful business man.

When Babe meets a beautiful blonde named Elsa Opel, he is in seventh heaven, believing that he has met the woman of his dreams. When he introduces his brother to Elsa, Babe shortly thereafter finds himself enmeshed in international intrigue. It seems that all is not as it has seemed. There is someone out there that believes that Babe has valuable information, and this person will stop at nothing to get that which he most desires.

This is a quick, page turning read that those who like international spy thrillers, replete with old-fashion skullduggery, a Nazi war criminal, multiple murders, and a fortune in diamonds, will enjoy.

A master lesson on how to write a thriller, 06 Oct 2007
I have not seen the movie so I had the pleasure of discovering the plot reading the novel. I will not deprive you of any of the suspense so let's just say the story will keep you on your toes until the end. The plausibility of the main character, the economy of the writing and of the dialogues and the pacing of the action are all amazing. I tend to find many thrillers overly long, suffering from too many twists and turns and heavy handed descriptions. Nothing of the sort here. Marathon Man is concise and to the point. Take anything out and the story will lose some intensity. Add anything else and you'll get an overweight boxer instead of a lean and mean killing machine. William Goldman did not win two Oscars for his scripts for nothing.

Brilliantly executed, fast paced thriller, 14 Feb 2006
If you ever thought "I could write a thriller", then read Marathon Man and then ask the same question again.

If you still think that you could match the tension (and fear!) of the merciless dentist with the elegance with which he draws the many strands of the story together, then start writing now!

The rest of us, however, will appreciate this for being a great way to make the longest journey seem far too short and find you hoping for "just until the end of the chapter."

Read This Book NOW, 29 May 1999
I've been a crime fiction reader for 10 years and this is the best book I've ever read. The characters are so endearing that I can't believe they're not real and the plot is terrifying and funny at the same time. Be very careful not to have a bath alone in the house once you've read it!

My new favourite book, 10 Sep 2008
I've never seen the film but I kept picking this up in bookshops and almost buying it so I thought I'd give it a chance. I took it on holiday with me and, to use a cliche, I couldn't put it down. I had to be dragged to dinner! Everything has a twist to it, which makes it that much more interesting, and I loved the mix of action, romance, comedy and sheer imagination. If you are considering buying this, it's worth knowing that William Goldman 'interrupts' the narrative quite a lot (and definitely read the introduction/prologue) but he's funny and it's a good way of building up tension so you really want to read on. I'm making all my friends read it so I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a new favourite book.

Original Version?, 09 Sep 2008
I couldn't seem to find a proper forum to ask this question in, so perhaps somebody here can help me. I'm looking for the original, UNABRIDGED version of this book. Even though I absolutely adore Goldman's abridgement, and his funny little notes that go along with it, I've been wanting to read the full version for a while now. Does anyone know where I could pick up a copy?

This Is My "If you were trapped on a desert island and can only take one book" Book, 01 Jul 2008
This is one of the very best books I've ever read.

A friend of mine who doesn't read had told me to watch the movie years ago, and I had politely nodded and told him that I would look into it, but all along was thinking "Princess Bride? CHICK FLICK!! No way am I going to bother with that." Years later I was moseying through one of my favourite book stores and saw the book on display there with a rapturous "Staff favourite" mini-review underneath it. I didn't have any pressing reads at the time, so picked it up alongside a few other books.

When I did eventually get around to opening it, I had two or three laugh out loud moments in the first twenty pages, and didn't put the book down until I'd finished it, other than to send a text message to my friend half way through to tell him that it was the best book I'd ever read.

The story is of the great love between Buttercup (the beautifulest girl in the world) and Westley (a farm boy with some surprising talents). There are pirates, torture, giants, ROUS's, a battle of wits to the death, sword fights, the BEST kissing scene imaginable, miracles...

I have bought this book for so many people, all of whom have (at the very least) liked it, and am hanging out for my niece to turn old enough to appreciate me reading it to her.

Pick it up and enjoy yourself!

An honest, old-fashioned adventure with a metafictional twist, 24 Sep 2007
The Princess Bride is an honest and old-fashioned adventure. The bride of the title is Buttercup, the most beautiful girl in the world, soon to be married to Prince Humperdinck - too bad she's in love with Westley, the farm boy. Before you reach the end, you've come to know an evil Sicilian criminal mastermind, a Spanish fencing wizard, a gentle Turkish giant and many other memorable characters.

It's not just a funny adventure, there's an additional metafictional level. As the story goes, William Goldman didn't write the book: it's an abridgement of a book written by S. Morgenstern. Every now and then Goldman pops in the story, interrupts and discusses some details of Morgenstern's work he disagrees with and has cut off. I'm fairly sure some people will dislike that, but to me, it was the thing that made Princess Bride shine.

It was good, but not spectacular - I don't quite get the amazingly good reviews at Amazon, for example. It was funny, definitely, but not hilarious. The book is oozing good one-liners, that I admit. So, if you're looking for adventure, romance and excitement, The Princess Bride is certainly a good choice.

Can you abridge an 'abridgement'?, 24 Sep 2007
This would have been a wonderful book if we could cut out the author and his drivel. He's rude about his then wife, his father, his son, Steven King. You have to wade through an ego trip at the beginning and the end and intervals throughout. He even acknowledges that all the parenthesis is annoying and that he was told to edit it out, but he's left it in!!! Every other paragraph, 'this was before blah but after blah'. It is infuriating!!! It is such a shame because there are parts of the story itself that are so beautifully written I could cry. I suppose I shall just have to hold Cary Elwes and Robin Wright close to my heart instead. Skip the book, watch the movie!

My new favourite book, 10 Sep 2008
I've never seen the film but I kept picking this up in bookshops and almost buying it so I thought I'd give it a chance. I took it on holiday with me and, to use a cliche, I couldn't put it down. I had to be dragged to dinner! Everything has a twist to it, which makes it that much more interesting, and I loved the mix of action, romance, comedy and sheer imagination. If you are considering buying this, it's worth knowing that William Goldman 'interrupts' the narrative quite a lot (and definitely read the introduction/prologue) but he's funny and it's a good way of building up tension so you really want to read on. I'm making all my friends read it so I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a new favourite book.

Original Version?, 09 Sep 2008
I couldn't seem to find a proper forum to ask this question in, so perhaps somebody here can help me. I'm looking for the original, UNABRIDGED version of this book. Even though I absolutely adore Goldman's abridgement, and his funny little notes that go along with it, I've been wanting to read the full version for a while now. Does anyone know where I could pick up a copy?

This Is My "If you were trapped on a desert island and can only take one book" Book, 01 Jul 2008
This is one of the very best books I've ever read.

A friend of mine who doesn't read had told me to watch the movie years ago, and I had politely nodded and told him that I would look into it, but all along was thinking "Princess Bride? CHICK FLICK!! No way am I going to bother with that." Years later I was moseying through one of my favourite book stores and saw the book on display there with a rapturous "Staff favourite" mini-review underneath it. I didn't have any pressing reads at the time, so picked it up alongside a few other books.

When I did eventually get around to opening it, I had two or three laugh out loud moments in the first twenty pages, and didn't put the book down until I'd finished it, other than to send a text message to my friend half way through to tell him that it was the best book I'd ever read.

The story is of the great love between Buttercup (the beautifulest girl in the world) and Westley (a farm boy with some surprising talents). There are pirates, torture, giants, ROUS's, a battle of wits to the death, sword fights, the BEST kissing scene imaginable, miracles...

I have bought this book for so many people, all of whom have (at the very least) liked it, and am hanging out for my niece to turn old enough to appreciate me reading it to her.

Pick it up and enjoy yourself!

An honest, old-fashioned adventure with a metafictional twist, 24 Sep 2007
The Princess Bride is an honest and old-fashioned adventure. The bride of the title is Buttercup, the most beautiful girl in the world, soon to be married to Prince Humperdinck - too bad she's in love with Westley, the farm boy. Before you reach the end, you've come to know an evil Sicilian criminal mastermind, a Spanish fencing wizard, a gentle Turkish giant and many other memorable characters.

It's not just a funny adventure, there's an additional metafictional level. As the story goes, William Goldman didn't write the book: it's an abridgement of a book written by S. Morgenstern. Every now and then Goldman pops in the story, interrupts and discusses some details of Morgenstern's work he disagrees with and has cut off. I'm fairly sure some people will dislike that, but to me, it was the thing that made Princess Bride shine.

It was good, but not spectacular - I don't quite get the amazingly good reviews at Amazon, for example. It was funny, definitely, but not hilarious. The book is oozing good one-liners, that I admit. So, if you're looking for adventure, romance and excitement, The Princess Bride is certainly a good choice.

Can you abridge an 'abridgement'?, 24 Sep 2007
This would have been a wonderful book if we could cut out the author and his drivel. He's rude about his then wife, his father, his son, Steven King. You have to wade through an ego trip at the beginning and the end and intervals throughout. He even acknowledges that all the parenthesis is annoying and that he was told to edit it out, but he's left it in!!! Every other paragraph, 'this was before blah but after blah'. It is infuriating!!! It is such a shame because there are parts of the story itself that are so beautifully written I could cry. I suppose I shall just have to hold Cary Elwes and Robin Wright close to my heart instead. Skip the book, watch the movie!

IS IT SAFE?..., 22 Nov 2007
This is an excellent spy thriller filled with international intrigue and double-dealing characters. It leaves one wondering just who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. While it sometimes seems a little dated in parts, the book will not fail to capture the imagination of the reader with its intricate plot, clever characters, and humor. Written in a straightforward, cogent style, this book was made into a major motion picture that starred Dustin Hoffman and was a big hit in its day.

Thomas Babington Levy, known as "Babe" to his family, is a Rhodes Scholar, a graduate student historian at Columbia University, and an amateur marathon runner. He has a wealthy older brother, Henry David Levy, whom he affectionately calls "Doc" and believes to be a successful business man.

When Babe meets a beautiful blonde named Elsa Opel, he is in seventh heaven, believing that he has met the woman of his dreams. When he introduces his brother to Elsa, Babe shortly thereafter finds himself enmeshed in international intrigue. It seems that all is not as it has seemed. There is someone out there that believes that Babe has valuable information, and this person will stop at nothing to get that which he most desires.

This is a quick, page turning read that those who like international spy thrillers, replete with old-fashion skullduggery, a Nazi war criminal, multiple murders, and a fortune in diamonds, will enjoy.

A master lesson on how to write a thriller, 06 Oct 2007
I have not seen the movie so I had the pleasure of discovering the plot reading the novel. I will not deprive you of any of the suspense so let's just say the story will keep you on your toes until the end. The plausibility of the main character, the economy of the writing and of the dialogues and the pacing of the action are all amazing. I tend to find many thrillers overly long, suffering from too many twists and turns and heavy handed descriptions. Nothing of the sort here. Marathon Man is concise and to the point. Take anything out and the story will lose some intensity. Add anything else and you'll get an overweight boxer instead of a lean and mean killing machine. William Goldman did not win two Oscars for his scripts for nothing.

Brilliantly executed, fast paced thriller, 14 Feb 2006
If you ever thought "I could write a thriller", then read Marathon Man and then ask the same question again.

If you still think that you could match the tension (and fear!) of the merciless dentist with the elegance with which he draws the many strands of the story together, then start writing now!

The rest of us, however, will appreciate this for being a great way to make the longest journey seem far too short and find you hoping for "just until the end of the chapter."

Read This Book NOW, 29 May 1999
I've been a crime fiction reader for 10 years and this is the best book I've ever read. The characters are so endearing that I can't believe they're not real and the plot is terrifying and funny at the same time. Be very careful not to have a bath alone in the house once you've read it!

Charming, But Lacking the Genius of The Princess Bride, 06 Nov 2008
The gondoliers of Venice were once regarded as the finest singers in the world, but for years they have been mysteriously silent. At the heart of this mystery is a young gondolier named Luigi. Luigi is an incredibly gifted gondolier, able to navigate what other gondoliers refer to as SPLAT Corner with the greatest of ease. However, when it comes to his vocal abilities, Luigi is severely lacking. In fact, his singing is so appalling that the citizens of Venice throw fish at him from their windows. His customers, wary of being pelted by flying seafood during their leisurely gondola rides, soon disappear. His fellow gondoliers, fearing for their own livelihoods, demand that Luigi never work as a gondolier again.


The disgraced Luigi then goes to work in the Gondolier's Tavern, washing dishes to earn his living. But still he dreams of the day when he can sing his heart out on the Grand Canal. After ten years he saves up enough money to take vocal lessons, but the only instructor who will take him on is a deaf man. Luigi's dream looks as though it will never be attainable, but an act of great bravery and skill will eventually change how his fellow gondoliers look at Luigi.


This is a fast and enjoyable read with a fair amount of charm, but The Silent Gondoliers doesn't quite live up the genius of Goldman's better known work, The Princess Bride. Luigi's story is not a must-read, but it is a pleasant tale that can be read in under an hour.

Further whimsy from the author of The Princess Bride, 14 Jan 2001
Fans of The Princess Bride may be searching for more works by the elusive S Morgenstern. The only other one in print, as far as I know, is The Silent Gondoliers.

Once again, it has been updated for modern readers by the silvery pen of William Goldman, a fine novelist who is doomed to be better known as a screenwriter.The first version of The Silent Gondoliers I saw did not contain Goldman's name anywhere on the book.

That said, this is a minor work. The tale, of gondoliers who suddenly lose their singing voices, is sweet but slight, and it lacks the caustic framing device that provided The Princess Bride with its edge. Nevertheless, it's essential for Goldman fans, and lovers of The Princess Bride will probably find it worth a look.

My new favourite book, 10 Sep 2008
I've never seen the film but I kept picking this up in bookshops and almost buying it so I thought I'd give it a chance. I took it on holiday with me and, to use a cliche, I couldn't put it down. I had to be dragged to dinner! Everything has a twist to it, which makes it that much more interesting, and I loved the mix of action, romance, comedy and sheer imagination. If you are considering buying this, it's worth knowing that William Goldman 'interrupts' the narrative quite a lot (and definitely read the introduction/prologue) but he's funny and it's a good way of building up tension so you really want to read on. I'm making all my friends read it so I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a new favourite book.

Original Version?, 09 Sep 2008
I couldn't seem to find a proper forum to ask this question in, so perhaps somebody here can help me. I'm looking for the original, UNABRIDGED version of this book. Even though I absolutely adore Goldman's abridgement, and his funny little notes that go along with it, I've been wanting to read the full version for a while now. Does anyone know where I could pick up a copy?

This Is My "If you were trapped on a desert island and can only take one book" Book, 01 Jul 2008
This is one of the very best books I've ever read.

A friend of mine who doesn't read had told me to watch the movie years ago, and I had politely nodded and told him that I would look into it, but all along was thinking "Princess Bride? CHICK FLICK!! No way am I going to bother with that." Years later I was moseying through one of my favourite book stores and saw the book on display there with a rapturous "Staff favourite" mini-review underneath it. I didn't have any pressing reads at the time, so picked it up alongside a few other books.

When I did eventually get around to opening it, I had two or three laugh out loud moments in the first twenty pages, and didn't put the book down until I'd finished it, other than to send a text message to my friend half way through to tell him that it was the best book I'd ever read.

The story is of the great love between Buttercup (the beautifulest girl in the world) and Westley (a farm boy with some surprising talents). There are pirates, torture, giants, ROUS's, a battle of wits to the death, sword fights, the BEST kissing scene imaginable, miracles...

I have bought this book for so many people, all of whom have (at the very least) liked it, and am hanging out for my niece to turn old enough to appreciate me reading it to her.

Pick it up and enjoy yourself!

An honest, old-fashioned adventure with a metafictional twist, 24 Sep 2007
The Princess Bride is an honest and old-fashioned adventure. The bride of the title is Buttercup, the most beautiful girl in the world, soon to be married to Prince Humperdinck - too bad she's in love with Westley, the farm boy. Before you reach the end, you've come to know an evil Sicilian criminal mastermind, a Spanish fencing wizard, a gentle Turkish giant and many other memorable characters.

It's not just a funny adventure, there's an additional metafictional level. As the story goes, William Goldman didn't write the book: it's an abridgement of a book written by S. Morgenstern. Every now and then Goldman pops in the story, interrupts and discusses some details of Morgenstern's work he disagrees with and has cut off. I'm fairly sure some people will dislike that, but to me, it was the thing that made Princess Bride shine.

It was good, but not spectacular - I don't quite get the amazingly good reviews at Amazon, for example. It was funny, definitely, but not hilarious. The book is oozing good one-liners, that I admit. So, if you're looking for adventure, romance and excitement, The Princess Bride is certainly a good choice.

Can you abridge an 'abridgement'?, 24 Sep 2007
This would have been a wonderful book if we could cut out the author and his drivel. He's rude about his then wife, his father, his son, Steven King. You have to wade through an ego trip at the beginning and the end and intervals throughout. He even acknowledges that all the parenthesis is annoying and that he was told to edit it out, but he's left it in!!! Every other paragraph, 'this was before blah but after blah'. It is infuriating!!! It is such a shame because there are parts of the story itself that are so beautifully written I could cry. I suppose I shall just have to hold Cary Elwes and Robin Wright close to my heart instead. Skip the book, watch the movie!

My new favourite book, 10 Sep 2008
I've never seen the film but I kept picking this up in bookshops and almost buying it so I thought I'd give it a chance. I took it on holiday with me and, to use a cliche, I couldn't put it down. I had to be dragged to dinner! Everything has a twist to it, which makes it that much more interesting, and I loved the mix of action, romance, comedy and sheer imagination. If you are considering buying this, it's worth knowing that William Goldman 'interrupts' the narrative quite a lot (and definitely read the introduction/prologue) but he's funny and it's a good way of building up tension so you really want to read on. I'm making all my friends read it so I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a new favourite book.

Original Version?, 09 Sep 2008
I couldn't seem to find a proper forum to ask this question in, so perhaps somebody here can help me. I'm looking for the original, UNABRIDGED version of this book. Even though I absolutely adore Goldman's abridgement, and his funny little notes that go along with it, I've been wanting to read the full version for a while now. Does anyone know where I could pick up a copy?

This Is My "If you were trapped on a desert island and can only take one book" Book, 01 Jul 2008
This is one of the very best books I've ever read.

A friend of mine who doesn't read had told me to watch the movie years ago, and I had politely nodded and told him that I would look into it, but all along was thinking "Princess Bride? CHICK FLICK!! No way am I going to bother with that." Years later I was moseying through one of my favourite book stores and saw the book on display there with a rapturous "Staff favourite" mini-review underneath it. I didn't have any pressing reads at the time, so picked it up alongside a few other books.

When I did eventually get around to opening it, I had two or three laugh out loud moments in the first twenty pages, and didn't put the book down until I'd finished it, other than to send a text message to my friend half way through to tell him that it was the best book I'd ever read.

The story is of the great love between Buttercup (the beautifulest girl in the world) and Westley (a farm boy with some surprising talents). There are pirates, torture, giants, ROUS's, a battle of wits to the death, sword fights, the BEST kissing scene imaginable, miracles...

I have bought this book for so many people, all of whom have (at the very least) liked it, and am hanging out for my niece to turn old enough to appreciate me reading it to her.

Pick it up and enjoy yourself!

An honest, old-fashioned adventure with a metafictional twist, 24 Sep 2007
The Princess Bride is an honest and old-fashioned adventure. The bride of the title is Buttercup, the most beautiful girl in the world, soon to be married to Prince Humperdinck - too bad she's in love with Westley, the farm boy. Before you reach the end, you've come to know an evil Sicilian criminal mastermind, a Spanish fencing wizard, a gentle Turkish giant and many other memorable characters.

It's not just a funny adventure, there's an additional metafictional level. As the story goes, William Goldman didn't write the book: it's an abridgement of a book written by S. Morgenstern. Every now and then Goldman pops in the story, interrupts and discusses some details of Morgenstern's work he disagrees with and has cut off. I'm fairly sure some people will dislike that, but to me, it was the thing that made Princess Bride shine.

It was good, but not spectacular - I don't quite get the amazingly good reviews at Amazon, for example. It was funny, definitely, but not hilarious. The book is oozing good one-liners, that I admit. So, if you're looking for adventure, romance and excitement, The Princess Bride is certainly a good choice.

Can you abridge an 'abridgement'?, 24 Sep 2007
This would have been a wonderful book if we could cut out the author and his drivel. He's rude about his then wife, his father, his son, Steven King. You have to wade through an ego trip at the beginning and the end and intervals throughout. He even acknowledges that all the parenthesis is annoying and that he was told to edit it out, but he's left it in!!! Every other paragraph, 'this was before blah but after blah'. It is infuriating!!! It is such a shame because there are parts of the story itself that are so beautifully written I could cry. I suppose I shall just have to hold Cary Elwes and Robin Wright close to my heart instead. Skip the book, watch the movie!

IS IT SAFE?..., 22 Nov 2007
This is an excellent spy thriller filled with international intrigue and double-dealing characters. It leaves one wondering just who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. While it sometimes seems a little dated in parts, the book will not fail to capture the imagination of the reader with its intricate plot, clever characters, and humor. Written in a straightforward, cogent style, this book was made into a major motion picture that starred Dustin Hoffman and was a big hit in its day.

Thomas Babington Levy, known as "Babe" to his family, is a Rhodes Scholar, a graduate student historian at Columbia University, and an amateur marathon runner. He has a wealthy older brother, Henry David Levy, whom he affectionately calls "Doc" and believes to be a successful business man.

When Babe meets a beautiful blonde named Elsa Opel, he is in seventh heaven, believing that he has met the woman of his dreams. When he introduces his brother to Elsa, Babe shortly thereafter finds himself enmeshed in international intrigue. It seems that all is not as it has seemed. There is someone out there that believes that Babe has valuable information, and this person will stop at nothing to get that which he most desires.

This is a quick, page turning read that those who like international spy thrillers, replete with old-fashion skullduggery, a Nazi war criminal, multiple murders, and a fortune in diamonds, will enjoy.

A master lesson on how to write a thriller, 06 Oct 2007
I have not seen the movie so I had the pleasure of discovering the plot reading the novel. I will not deprive you of any of the suspense so let's just say the story will keep you on your toes until the end. The plausibility of the main character, the economy of the writing and of the dialogues and the pacing of the action are all amazing. I tend to find many thrillers overly long, suffering from too many twists and turns and heavy handed descriptions. Nothing of the sort here. Marathon Man is concise and to the point. Take anything out and the story will lose some intensity. Add anything else and you'll get an overweight boxer instead of a lean and mean killing machine. William Goldman did not win two Oscars for his scripts for nothing.

Brilliantly executed, fast paced thriller, 14 Feb 2006
If you ever thought "I could write a thriller", then read Marathon Man and then ask the same question again.

If you still think that you could match the tension (and fear!) of the merciless dentist with the elegance with which he draws the many strands of the story together, then start writing now!

The rest of us, however, will appreciate this for being a great way to make the longest journey seem far too short and find you hoping for "just until the end of the chapter."

Read This Book NOW, 29 May 1999
I've been a crime fiction reader for 10 years and this is the best book I've ever read. The characters are so endearing that I can't believe they're not real and the plot is terrifying and funny at the same time. Be very careful not to have a bath alone in the house once you've read it!

Charming, But Lacking the Genius of The Princess Bride, 06 Nov 2008
The gondoliers of Venice were once regarded as the finest singers in the world, but for years they have been mysteriously silent. At the heart of this mystery is a young gondolier named Luigi. Luigi is an incredibly gifted gondolier, able to navigate what other gondoliers refer to as SPLAT Corner with the greatest of ease. However, when it comes to his vocal abilities, Luigi is severely lacking. In fact, his singing is so appalling that the citizens of Venice throw fish at him from their windows. His customers, wary of being pelted by flying seafood during their leisurely gondola rides, soon disappear. His fellow gondoliers, fearing for their own livelihoods, demand that Luigi never work as a gondolier again.


The disgraced Luigi then goes to work in the Gondolier's Tavern, washing dishes to earn his living. But still he dreams of the day when he can sing his heart out on the Grand Canal. After ten years he saves up enough money to take vocal lessons, but the only instructor who will take him on is a deaf man. Luigi's dream looks as though it will never be attainable, but an act of great bravery and skill will eventually change how his fellow gondoliers look at Luigi.


This is a fast and enjoyable read with a fair amount of charm, but The Silent Gondoliers doesn't quite live up the genius of Goldman's better known work, The Princess Bride. Luigi's story is not a must-read, but it is a pleasant tale that can be read in under an hour.

Further whimsy from the author of The Princess Bride, 14 Jan 2001
Fans of The Princess Bride may be searching for more works by the elusive S Morgenstern. The only other one in print, as far as I know, is The Silent Gondoliers.

Once again, it has been updated for modern readers by the silvery pen of William Goldman, a fine novelist who is doomed to be better known as a screenwriter.The first version of The Silent Gondoliers I saw did not contain Goldman's name anywhere on the book.

That said, this is a minor work. The tale, of gondoliers who suddenly lose their singing voices, is sweet but slight, and it lacks the caustic framing device that provided The Princess Bride with its edge. Nevertheless, it's essential for Goldman fans, and lovers of The Princess Bride will probably find it worth a look.

He's such a fantastic writer..., 06 Dec 2001
There are obvious parallels between this and Salinger's "Catcher in the Rye" (it even says so - right there on the cover) but, despite this book's faring less famously than its more celebrated predecessor, it's a worthy book nevertheless.

What makes it so fascinating (at least for us Goldman fans) are the autobiographical elements. Trevitt, the book's adolescent narrator, has a difficult relationship with his father, he fares badly at school, he has a less-than-creditable career in the army, but - most tellingly - his favourite movie is... yup... "Gunga Din".

There's a strange and distancing amorality about Trevitt that slowly dissipates as the book progresses. This initial "coolness" lends even familiar events and plot-lines with a certain exoticism. Don't get me wrong: it's no "American Psycho" but it does ruffle your feathers a little.

About three-quarters through, there's a rather unconvincing sequence of events that, for me, doesn't quite ring plausible (let alone true) but it all wraps up neatly enough at the end.

If you're a Goldman fan, you'll need no telling to go out and get this (his first novel, no less). If you're not, buy it anyway. What the hell. Better than anything JK bloody Rowling will EVER write.