This is my favourite book in all the world, though I have never read it.
And so begins William Goldman’s 1973 novel, The Princess Bride. A tongue-in-cheek fairy tale, which promises “true love and high adventure”, Goldman’s novel is often forgotten due to the wildly successful movie adaptation of 1987 – which Goldman wrote the screenplay for as well. While the film is still lovable, humorous and witty after more than thirty years, so is the novel. It’s a thoughtful examination of the artistry behind storytelling. Goldman’s writing skills, both brilliant and exhaustive, create a world where an elaborate, ridiculous fairy tale is entirely plausible.
Goldman would later recall in Richard Andersen’s 1979 book, William Goldman, that he never could fathom his novel’s charm: “I've gotten more responses on The Princess Bride than on everything else I've done put together…Something in The Princess Bride affects people.”
I would argue that there isn’t necessarily something in The Princess Bride that affects people, but rather somethings. Here are a few reasons why The Princess Bride is still a triumph.
THE ORIGINS
Like any great story, the beginning is important.
Goldman has always been open about his struggles with writing and how the experience of being published has always felt “bizarre”. Perhaps this is why, of all his novels, The Princess Bride, was one of Goldman’s favourite – simply because he never set out to publish it.
The premise behind this novel is touching. Before leaving his daughters for a business trip to California, Goldman promised he would write them a story about anything they wanted. One of his daughters wanted a story about a princess and the other a bride, so Goldman fashioned those terms into his title.
In his novel, Goldman is committed to delivering a classic tale of love, adventure and family – with only the “good parts”. Underlying all that, though, is a heart-warming concept: what you are reading is a father’s love letter to his children.
THE PLOT
The actual plot of The Princess Bride is a monumental feat. The film features much of it: the iocane powder scene, the reveal of the Dread Pirate Roberts, Buttercup’s marriage - but the novel has so much more.
For those who don’t know, The Princess Bride is a story within a story. William Goldman, as himself, narrates the story of how he never liked reading as a child. When he is bedridden with pneumonia, his father decides to read him a copy of S. Morgenstern’s famous book, The Princess Bride. Goldman becomes obsessed with it, and years later wishes to share the story with his own son. However, his son vehemently dislikes the book, much to Goldman’s disappointment. He decides to read it for himself for the first time and is shocked to see his beloved fairy tale book is just a long, boring history textbook with a few snippets of Buttercup’s story; these were the parts his father read to him, aka the “good parts”.
The novel’s textual frame is complicated, masterfully blurring the lines between fiction and reality. It’s also highly unconventional – it’s fun, silly and not afraid to poke fun at itself.
THE QUOTABILITY
Finally, the prevailing aspect behind Goldman’s success is this: The Princess Bride is incredibly quotable.
Throughout the novel, there are a plethora of memorable characters – such as Goldman’s favourite, Fezzik – and their subsequent witty one liners. These are the heart of the story, and while the film highlights the best ones, the novel offers a hundred times more, including:
- “My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die!”
- “Just because you're beautiful and perfect, it's made you conceited.”
- “You are trying to kidnap what I have rightfully stolen, and I think it quite ungentlemanly.”
- “I once dreamed I would die here”/ “So did I, so did we all. Were you eight that year? I was.”
- “Life is pain, anyone who says otherwise is obviously selling something!”
At its core, The Princess Bride is a satirical story about the victories and disasters that come with love. But, more than that, it’s the story of Buttercup, the most beautiful girl in the world. And a story of fencing, fighting, torture, poison, true love, hate, revenge, giants, hunters, bad men, good men, beautiful ladies, snakes, spiders, beasts, chases, escapes, lies, truths, passion, and miracles.
There’s no reason not to read it, really.
Mansib is a Journalism & Communications student and a lover of history, culture and workplace comedies. Her hobbies include reading, writing, annoying her cat and preparing for a future where society is ruled by robots.
