Her heart was a secret garden and the walls were very high.


Beautiful, flaxen-haired Buttercup has fallen for Westley, the farm boy.

Filled with ambition Westley departs to make his fortune and be worthy of her love. But when Buttercup hears that his ship has been captured by the Dread Pirate Roberts - who never leaves survivors - she vows never to love another.

Buttercup's charms draw the attention of the malevolent Prince Humperdinck who will go to any lengths to make her his princess bride. But all is not lost! There is a rescue afoot by a mysterious man in black…
An iconic adventure filled with sword fights and giants, evil princes and pirates, revenge and ridiculousness, all wrapped in a dazzling satire of classic fairy tales.

The Princess Bride is not just a story you’ll want to read – it’s one you’ll want to live.

‘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 meant for grown-ups' * Spectator *
‘A spoof fairytale ... Terrific' * Daily Telegraph *
‘One of the funniest, most original, and deeply moving novels I have read in a long time' - Los Angeles Times

William Goldman wrote books and movies for over forty-five years. He 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 died in 2018.