Pulitzer Prize Fiction Winner
The Bridge of San Luis Rey
by Thornton Wilder
Summary
When a rope bridge in eighteenth-century Peru collapses and sends five travelers to their deaths, a Franciscan friar sets out to investigate their lives in search of a divine pattern behind the accident. Wilder weaves their stories into a meditation on love, chance, and the search for meaning, written in spare, allegorical prose. Its short length, philosophical reach, and emotional warmth have made it a perennial favorite in classrooms and book clubs alike.
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Historical Context & Significance
A massive departure from the previous "American" winners; its philosophical depth made it a global sensation and it remains a staple of high school literature.