The Bridge of San Luis Rey

The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder is a philosophical novel set in 18th-century Peru. It begins with the tragic collapse of an old Inca rope bridge, killing five people. A Franciscan friar, Brother Juniper, witnesses the accident and becomes obsessed with understanding why those specific individuals died. He investigates their lives, seeking to uncover a divine plan behind the tragedy.

Through his inquiry, the novel explores the interconnected lives of the victims-an actress, her daughter, a scribe, a nobleman, and a servant. Each story reveals human struggles with love, loss, faith, and fate. Ultimately, the novel suggests that love is the only true justification for existence, even in the face of inexplicable suffering.

The book raises timeless questions about destiny, meaning, and the presence (or absence) of a higher purpose.