The Princess Bride

About The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride is a 1973 novel written by William Goldman and presented as if it were an abridgment of a work by S. Morgenstern. It was originally published in the United States by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich. It combines elements of comedy, adventure, romance and fairy tale. It was made into a feature film in 1987 by Rob Reiner, and an attempt to adapt it into a musical was made by Adam Guettel.

In a Renaissance-era fairy-tale world, a beautiful woman named Buttercup lives on a farm in the fictional country of Florin. She delights in verbally abusing the farm hand Westley by demanding that he perform chores for her. Westley's only answer is "As you wish", which represents his great affection for her. After Buttercup realizes the true meaning of the words, as well as the fact that she returns his love, Westley leaves to seek his fortune so they can marry. Buttercup later receives word that his ship was attacked at sea by the Dread Pirate Roberts, who is notorious for killing all those whose vessels he boards. Believing Westley to be dead, Buttercup reluctantly is engaged to Prince Humperdinck, heir to the throne of Florin.

Before the wedding, Buttercup is kidnapped by a trio of outlaws: the Sicilian criminal genius Vizzini, the Spanish fencing master Inigo Montoya, and the enormous and mighty Turkish wrestler Fezzik. A masked man in black follows them across the sea and up the Cliffs of Insanity, whereupon Vizzini orders Inigo to stop him. Inigo arranges a fair fight, allowing his opponent to rest before the duel, during which Inigo reveals that he is seeking revenge on a six-fingered man who killed his father. The man in black wins their duel, but leaves the Spaniard alive. Vizzini, stunned, orders Fezzik to kill the man in black. Fezzik, moved by his conscience throws a rock as a warning, and challenges the man in black to a wrestling match. The man in black then chokes Fezzik until the giant blacks out. The man in black catches up with Vizzini, who is holding Buttercup hostage, and proposes a battle of wits. Vizzini is tricked into drinking poison, and subsequently dies.