Product Review
In 1941 a young boy lies bedridden from pneumonia. His perpetually disheveled and unattractive father, an immigrant from Florin with terribly broken English, shuffles into his bedroom carrying a book. The boy wants to know if it has any sports. His father says, "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. Passions. Miracles." And the little boy, though he doesnt know it, is about to change forever.
William Goldmans beloved novel, The Princess Bride has sold over one million copies. Its 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.
Is The Princess Bride a critique of classics like Ivanhoe and The Three Musketeers that smother a ripping yarn under elaborate prose? Is it a wry look at the differences between fairy tales and real life? Or is it simply a funny, frenetic adventure? No matter how you read it, you'll put it on your "keeper" shelf.
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