bridge

Once upon a time, in the world depicted by the famous book 'The Pilgrim's Progress', lived a young pilgrim named Hopeful. Unlike Christian, his heart wasn't weighed with a burden, but he was bothered by a lingering sense of uncertainty. No matter how far he walked, no matter how many good deeds he committed, a nagging doubt accompanied him on his arduous journey towards the Celestial City. 'Am I truly on the right path?' he often asked himself.

In the heart of the fictitious town of Casterbridge, where Thomas Hardy’s novel 'The Mayor of Casterbridge' is set, there was a man who was a symbol of remorse and repentance. Henry Hartnell, known to the town as Hartnell the humble, had once been a close associate of Michael Henchard, the self-made Mayor.

Once upon a time, in the vast landscapes of Peru, not far from the city of Lima, a frail bridge known as San Luis Rey collapsed. The bridge had been a life link for the humble dwellers, a crossing of paths, dreams, and destinies. The catastrophe took five lives, leaving a void and a story to tell.

In the quaint town of Kingsbridge, a secret lay buried - a secret that would change the course of history for the people residing there. The city had prospered under the guidance of Prior Philip and Master Builder Tom of Shiring, with the monumental Kingsbridge cathedral standing strong as a testament to their tenacity and brilliance. Yet, the tale we embark on today is not of a man, but rather a treasure that would thrust Kingsbridge into an unexpected quandary.

Francine was well acquainted with the stories her grandmother Francesca told about the four days in the summer of 1965 that shaped her life. Being the granddaughter of the infamous love chronicle in Robert James Waller's 'The Bridges of Madison County', Francine grew up embracing the bittersweet tale of love, passion, and sacrifice. It was always her lifelong dream to return to the bridges, the silent witnesses of her grandmother's saga.