About the book
This Pulitzer Prize-winning, fable-like short novel—by the author of Our Town and The Skin of Our Teeth—has been beloved around the world for nearly a century.
This splendid and profoundly moving novel begins with a simple and seemingly senseless tragedy. \"On Friday noon, July the twentieth, 1714, the finest bridge in all Peru broke and precipitated five travelers into the gulf below.\" A traveling monk, Brother Juniper, witnesses the catastrophe and becomes obsessed with investigating the lives of the five victims in order to prove that their deaths had meaning. His mission is doomed to fail, but over the course of the story, the five unlucky individuals—a noblewoman, a maid, an orphan, an old man, and a child—come to life for the reader in all of their glorious complexity. Their intertwined lives—snuffed out in one shattering moment—illuminate the biggest questions that we can ask ourselves about the nature of love and meaning of the human condition.
Editions of The Bridge of San Luis Rey
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780593470947
- EBook
- ISBN 9780593470954
Read an Excerpt
This Pulitzer Prize-winning, fable-like short novel—by the author of Our Town and The Skin of Our Teeth—has been beloved around the world for nearly a century.
This splendid and profoundly moving novel begins with a simple and seemingly senseless tragedy. \"On Friday noon, July the twentieth, 1714, the finest bridge in all Peru broke and precipitated five travelers into the gulf below.\" A traveling monk, Brother Juniper, witnesses the catastrophe and becomes obsessed with investigating the lives of the five victims in order to prove that their deaths had meaning. His mission is doomed to fail, but over the course of the story, the five unlucky individuals—a noblewoman, a maid, an orphan, an old man, and a child—come to life for the reader in all of their glorious complexity. Their intertwined lives—snuffed out in one shattering moment—illuminate the biggest questions that we can ask ourselves about the nature of love and meaning of the human condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Bridge of San Luis Rey about?
This Pulitzer Prize-winning, fable-like short novel—by the author of Our Town and The Skin of Our Teeth—has been beloved around the world for nearly a century.
This splendid and profoundly moving novel begins with a simple and seemingly senseless tragedy. \"On Friday noon, July the twentieth, 1714, the finest bridge in all Peru broke and precipitated five travelers into the gulf below.\" A traveling monk, Brother Juniper, witnesses the catastrophe and becomes obsessed with investigating the lives of the five victims in order to prove that their deaths had meaning. His mission is doomed to fail, but over the course of the story, the five unlucky individuals—a noblewoman, a maid, an orphan, an old man, and a child—come to life for the reader in all of their glorious complexity. Their intertwined lives—snuffed out in one shattering moment—illuminate the biggest questions that we can ask ourselves about the nature of love and meaning of the human condition.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Bridge of San Luis Rey?
Fiction > Fiction: literary and general non-genre > Classic fiction: literary and general
Where can I read a sample of The Bridge of San Luis Rey?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780593470947
Is The Bridge of San Luis Rey part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series Vintage Classics
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Bridge of San Luis Rey?
Thornton Wilder
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Bridge of San Luis Rey is available as paperback(ISBN 9780593470947) and ebook(ISBN 9780593470954)
Where can I buy The Bridge of San Luis Rey online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Bridge of San Luis Rey from below
Where can I buy The Bridge of San Luis Rey?