1928 The Bridge of San Luis Rey
1928 The Bridge of San Luis Rey Thorton Wilder 235 pages Summary Part One: Brother Juniper, an earnest friar in Lima, Peru, recounts an accident in which the ropes of an ancient Incan bridge break one day for no apparent reason, sending five people to their deaths. He scientifically investigates the lives of the victims, to determine whether the tragic failure of the bridge was part of God's Plan. Part Two: A Marquesa foolishly dotes upon her daughter Clara, a girl who is cruelly indifferent to her mother. Once Clara has married brilliantly and moves to Spain, the Marquesa takes a companion, Pepita. Pepita is an orphan raised and mentored by the Abbess in a nearby convent. From Pepita's humble example, the Marquesa learns what it means to live bravely. She and Pepita are both killed in the bridge collapse. Part Three: Orphaned twin brothers, Manuel and Esteban, are also raised by the Abbess. The twins are preternaturally close, until Manuel falls in love with a cab...