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 - who never leaves 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 fairytale like no other, of fencing, fighting, torture, poison, true love, hate, revenge, giants, hunters, bad men, good men, beautifulest ladies, snakes, spiders, beasts, chases, escapes, lies, truths, passion and miracles.

'One of the most laconic, tightly-plotted tales of mythical morality you'll ever read, an anti-establishment satire disguised as a love story, more of a scary tale than a fairy tale' Uncut 'There's nothing fluffy about The Princess Bride. The rocket-powered narrative tricks you without being merely tricksy, and is both modern and timeless' Neon 'A funny thriller for readers who are about ten years of age or wish they were Readers of a nervous disposition should be prepared to skim rapidly over the Zoo of Death episode or stick to fiction mean for grown-ups' Spectator 'A spoof fairytale Terrific' Daily Telegraph

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.