The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure (The 'Good Parts' Version) (Hardcover)

by William Goldman (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The Princess Bride is a true fantasy classic. William Goldman describes it as a "good parts version" of "S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure." Morgenstern's original was filled with details of Florinese history, court etiquette, and Mrs. Morgenstern's mostly complimentary views of the text. Much admired by academics, the "Classic Tale" nonetheless obscured what Mr. Goldman feels is a story that has everything: "Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True love. Hate. Revenge. Giants. Hunters. Bad men. Good men. Beautifulest ladies. Snakes. Spiders. Beasts of all natures and descriptions. Pain. Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passion. Miracles."

Goldman frames the fairy tale with an "autobiographical" story: his father, who came from Florin, abridged the book as he read it to his son. Now, Goldman is publishing an abridged version, interspersed with comments on the parts he cut out.

Is The Princess Bride a critique of classics like Ivanhoe and The Three Musketeers, that smother a ripping yarn under elaborate prose? A wry look at the differences between fairy tales and real life? Simply a funny, frenetic adventure? No matter how you read it, you'll put it on your "keeper" shelf. --Nona Vero

From AudioFile
Fans of the original book and the 1980s' film will enjoy this retelling of THE PRINCESS BRIDE, but only as a nostalgic curiosity. This version is even shorter than Goldman's fictitious abridgment of S. Morgenstern's "original," and it comes off more like a synopsis than a real fairy tale. Reiner, director of the film, is no narrator, but he gives it a good try. He sounds more like a mildly hurried father reading this book to his children, a quality that, while charming, fails to make a strong listening experience. Listeners familiar with the story will still laugh at all the right points, as Reiner's appreciation for the text does come across, despite the lackluster reading. A.A. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the