The Bridges of Madison County Book

Quietly powerful and thoroughly credible Waller's first novel (he previously wrote two books of essays) describes the profound love between a photographer and an Iowa farmer's wife who together for only four days never lose their feelings for each other. In August 1965 52-year-old divorce Robert Kincaid packs his pickup truck and travels to Iowa's Madison County the location of seven covered bridges he is to photograph for National Geographic . There he asks directions of Francesca Johnson alone at home while her husband and two children visit the Illinois State Fair. Initially neither Robert nor Francesca expects their random encounter to lead to seduction yet their mutual desire is undeniable. Waller tells their story as though it were nonfiction claiming to have heard about Francesca from her children after her death read her journals seen Robert's relics of those four days and interviewed a jazz musician who knew the photographer. Scenes between the lovers are movingly evoked and moments with Francesca who celebrates her birthday 22 years later by reflecting on her brief time with Robert are particularly poignant. An erotic bittersweet tale of lingering memories and forsaken possibilities. Photos of covered bridges serve as illustrations.

The Bridges Of Madison County : Paperback : Cornerstone : 9780099421344 : : 13 Sep 1993 : A man. A woman. The heat of an Iowa summer. And the brief encounter whose passion will last a lifetime.