The bridge of San Luis Rey

"The Bridge of San Luis Rey" by Thornton Wilder is a thought-provoking book from the late 1920s that follows Brother Juniper, a monk, as he tries to understand why five people died when a bridge suddenly fell apart in Peru. The story is set in July of 1714, and after the disaster, Brother Juniper feels like he has to figure out if it was just a terrible accident, or if some kind of higher power caused it to happen. As he looks into the lives of the people who died, the story looks at big ideas like destiny, why we're here, and how everyone's lives are mixed together. The beginning of the book really shows how shocked and sad people were after the bridge broke, and it prepares the reader for a close-up look at what it means to be human, as Juniper tries to find answers about life and death.