The Bridge of San Luis Rey (novel)

*The Bridge of San Luis Rey* by Thornton Wilder explores themes of fate, coincidence, and mortality through the story of a monastery friar who witnesses the collapse of an Inca bridge, killing five people. He questions whether their deaths were random or part of a divine plan, prompting a deeper reflection on why individuals suffer and how lives are interconnected. The novel examines the lives of these victims, revealing their desires, regrets, and hopes, ultimately challenging readers to consider the meaning of divine justice and the randomness of life's tragedies.