The Princess Bride

by

William Goldman

A prolific American author of horror and suspense novels and short stories; according to Goldman, he's also of Florinese descent. Goldman notes in the introduction to the 30th anniversary edition of The Princess Bride that he adapted a number of King's works into screenplays and the two appear to be good friends. In the introduction to the 30th anniversary edition, King even writes a letter to the Curator that gives Goldman permission to look at S. Morgenstern's notebooks. Goldman explains in the introduction to Buttercup's Baby that things go south in their relationship when Goldman learns that the Morgenstern estate wants King to adapt Buttercup's Baby instead of him. King tells Goldman that he doesn't like how Goldman adapted The Princess Bride, but he allows Goldman to take on the first chapter of Buttercup's Baby to see how he does when he sees how much it means to Goldman to have the opportunity. (Stephen King is a real author, but his interactions with Goldman here are all fictionalized.)
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Stephen King Character Timeline in The Princess Bride

The timeline below shows where the character Stephen King appears in The Princess Bride. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Introduction to the 30th Anniversary Edition
Love, Loyalty, and Friendship Theme Icon
Authorship and Storytelling Theme Icon
...Buttercup's wedding dress, and the Machine, and then they go to see the Curator. Stephen King wrote a letter to the Curator asking him to admit Goldman to the Sanctuary, which... (full context)
Buttercup’s Baby: An Explanation
Fact vs. Fiction  Theme Icon
Authorship and Storytelling Theme Icon
...pages from 1000, and cut out lots of material about Westley's terrible childhood and how King Lotharon went to Miracle Max after Humperdinck's birth, as he knew Humperdinck was a monster... (full context)
Authorship and Storytelling Theme Icon
...to abridge Buttercup's Baby and does wish them the best. Then, Carly says that Stephen King is going to abridge Buttercup's Baby. Goldman is lost for words. Carly goes on and... (full context)
Authorship and Storytelling Theme Icon
The next morning, Goldman flies to Maine. He adapted Stephen King's novel Misery a few years ago and got to know him then. Goldman is prepared... (full context)
Fact vs. Fiction  Theme Icon
The Value of Cleverness and Humility Theme Icon
Authorship and Storytelling Theme Icon
Goldman is defensive, but King insists that Goldman left out too much stuff. Goldman admits that he never went to... (full context)
Authorship and Storytelling Theme Icon
 King tells Goldman that he expects him to do it right this time and says that... (full context)
Buttercup's Baby: 2. Inigo
Fact vs. Fiction  Theme Icon
The Value of Cleverness and Humility Theme Icon
Love, Loyalty, and Friendship Theme Icon
Authorship and Storytelling Theme Icon
Fairytales and Growing Up Theme Icon
...in Despair. Goldman says that he thinks this is Morgenstern at his best and Stephen King agreed. King put Goldman in contact with a cousin at Florin University, who insisted that... (full context)