The Princess Bride | William Goldman

Beautiful, flaxen-haired Buttercup has fallen for Westley, the farm boy, and when he departs to make his fortune, she vows never to love another. So when she hears that his ship has been captured by the Dread Pirate Roberts (no survivors) her heart is broken. But her charms draw the attention of the relentless Prince Humperdinck who wants a wife and will go to any lengths to have Buttercup. So starts a fairy tale like no other, of fencing, poison, true love, hate, revenge, giants, bad men, good men, snakes, spiders, chases, escapes, lies, truths, passion and miracles.

This would have to be one of my all time favourites. Being a big fan of the movie when I was a kid I was naturally a bit tentative to read the book but after much insistence from a friend that the book was just as good as the movie, if not better, I took the plunge. Who could not love a story that has it all; pirates, villains, giants, adventure, screeching eels, sword-fights, torture and, most importantly, true love. This book is just pure fun and enjoyment and is a must read for anyone who enjoyed the movie.

William Goldman has been writing books and movies for over forty-five years. He has won two Academy Awards (for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and All the President's Men) and three Lifetime Achievement awards in screenwriting. His novels The Princess Bride and Marathon Man, are also published by Bloomsbury. He lives in New York City.