William Goldman - The Princess Bride
S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure
What can I say about this enchanting book/movie that has not already been said? Most of us remember "The Princess Bride" for the memorable lines: "My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die", made immortal in the spectacular movie. Can the book really improve such an experience as this?
It can, and it does.
The book is really all about frames within frames of a frame, in which one can hardly tell fiction from reality. Is it a classical tale? The story of a script-writer abridging a classical tale? A story read by a father to his son? A catching satire about royalty? A tale on true love?
Goldman only adds to this confusion, describing the tale as containing "Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True love. Hate. Revenge. Giants. Hunters. Bad men. Good men. Beautiful ladies. Snakes. Spiders. Beasts of all natures and descriptions. Pain. Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passions. Miracles". He's not lying.
Goldman claims his story to be an abridgement of a classic tale, and proceeds to make fun of everything involved, including himself. His ability to create irony within irony is remarkable, for example the notes on noble packing are simply hilarious.
"No one could be following us yet?" the Spaniard asked.
"No one," the Sicilian assured him. "It would be inconceivable."
"Absolutely inconceivable?"
"Absolutely, totally, and, in all other ways, inconceivable," the Sicilian reassured him. "Why do you ask?"
"No reason," the Spaniard replied. "It's only that I just happened to look back and something's there."
They all whirled.
Something was indeed there. Less than a mile behind them across the moonlight was another sailing boat, small, painted what looked like black, with a giant sail that billowed black in the night, and a single man at the tiller. A man in black.
The Spaniard looked at the Sicilian. "It must just be some local fisherman out for a pleasure cruise alone at night through shark-infested waters."
On the Upside: Enchanting, Hilarious, Moving. Disliking would be inconceivable.
On the Downside: Too short, No sequel.
JYRating: 92. Buy it!
What can I say about this enchanting book/movie that has not already been said? Most of us remember "The Princess Bride" for the memorable lines: "My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die", made immortal in the spectacular movie. Can the book really improve such an experience as this?
It can, and it does.
The book is really all about frames within frames of a frame, in which one can hardly tell fiction from reality. Is it a classical tale? The story of a script-writer abridging a classical tale? A story read by a father to his son? A catching satire about royalty? A tale on true love?
Goldman only adds to this confusion, describing the tale as containing "Fencing. Fighting. Torture. Poison. True love. Hate. Revenge. Giants. Hunters. Bad men. Good men. Beautiful ladies. Snakes. Spiders. Beasts of all natures and descriptions. Pain. Death. Brave men. Coward men. Strongest men. Chases. Escapes. Lies. Truths. Passions. Miracles". He's not lying.
Goldman claims his story to be an abridgement of a classic tale, and proceeds to make fun of everything involved, including himself. His ability to create irony within irony is remarkable, for example the notes on noble packing are simply hilarious.
"No one could be following us yet?" the Spaniard asked.
"No one," the Sicilian assured him. "It would be inconceivable."
"Absolutely inconceivable?"
"Absolutely, totally, and, in all other ways, inconceivable," the Sicilian reassured him. "Why do you ask?"
"No reason," the Spaniard replied. "It's only that I just happened to look back and something's there."
They all whirled.
Something was indeed there. Less than a mile behind them across the moonlight was another sailing boat, small, painted what looked like black, with a giant sail that billowed black in the night, and a single man at the tiller. A man in black.
The Spaniard looked at the Sicilian. "It must just be some local fisherman out for a pleasure cruise alone at night through shark-infested waters."
On the Upside: Enchanting, Hilarious, Moving. Disliking would be inconceivable.
On the Downside: Too short, No sequel.
JYRating: 92. Buy it!
