The Bridges of Madison County [Mass Market Paperback]

Robert James Waller (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1995

The legendary love story, the bestselling hardcover novel of all time, and the major motion picture starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. This is the story of Robert Kincaid, the photographer and free spirit searching for the covered bridges of Madison County, and Francesca Johnson, the farm wife waiting for fulfillment of a girlhood dream. It shows readers what it is to love and be loved so intensely that life is never the same again.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

When Robert Kincaid drives through the heat and dust of an Iowa summer and turns into Francesca Johnson's farm lane looking for directions, the world-class photographer and the Iowa farm wife are joined in an experience of uncommon truth and stunning beauty that will haunt them forever. The romantic classic of the 1990's. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Publishers Weekly

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. 35,000 first printing.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; First Edition edition (September 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446364495
• ISBN-13: 978-0446364492
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.6 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (448 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #137,356 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 41 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars If you've ever really been in love you'll "GET" this book September 21, 2004

By J. A. Gant

Format:Hardcover

If you're a miserable cynic, you'll hate it. I am not a fiction reader. I am purely a lover of non-fiction. But a friend pleaded with me to read this book. When I finally broke down and picked up the book, I could not put it down. I finished it in about 5 hours.

People can say whatever they want about it being contrived romance, but this book puts you inside of what it feels like to be in a very intense romance that some (real) people really experience. I've been there, I know the anguish and intensity of the love this book describes. There really are people who love, speak and act this way.

People who don't get this book are bitter and angry that they can not concieve of such intense loving and living. If you love to love, and love an incredible quick read, this book is for you.

I wept for a good half hour when I finished this book despite myself. Enjoy!

-- A non-fiction loving, non-sap from New Jersey

28 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect read for the sentimentalist November 7, 2006

By Sarah Vigil Swiger VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

A woman I know, along with an Amazon.com reviewer or two, couldn't comprehend how Francesca's boredom could lead her to betray her husband. Francesca was not bored, perhaps unsustained by her husband's lack of passion, but not bored. Bridges of Madison County hit the bestsellers list for years because just about everyone has parted ways with someone they loved, whether it lasted four days or ten years. True passion lives forever in the memory and can sustain for a lifetime. This story is beautiful, one of my favorites.

26 of 33 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars The Bridges Of Madison County May 11, 2001

By "[e-mail]"

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I could not even finish reading the last 20 pages of this book because of the offensive content. This book is a glorified romance novel; hiding behind pretentious, contrived, Hemingway-esque descriptive passages: "With her face buried in his neck and her skin against his, she could smell rivers and woodsmoke, could hear steaming trains chuffing out of winter stations in long-ago nightimes, could see travelers in black robes moving steadily along frozen rivers and through summer meadows, beating their way toward the end of things. The leopard swept over her again, and again and yet again, like a long prairie wind, and rolling beneath him, she rode on that wind like some temple virgin toward the sweet, compliant fires marking the soft curve of oblivion." Drivel! I have read so many books of this nature lately and it is increasingly offensive to me that storylines dealing with the romanticism of marital infidelity become best sellers. It's the same old story of the poor, neglected, lonely mother/housewife who is trapped in a boring marriage to your average hard-working "good-Joe" type husband. Who could blame this poor woman for giving into temptation when this exciting, good looking, worldly man comes into her life and makes her feel beautiful, intelligent and desirable again? After 24 hours they are in the sack and after four days of lust, they both know they have finally found their soulmate! Give me a break! The final insult is that the reader is supposed to respect her for choosing her family over "true" love, out of guilt and responsibility?... The truly touching love stories are those that are based upon two people who have committed themselves completely to one another, standing together through the good and bad times, the exciting and boring times; raising children and making a life together. All of these "ordinary" moments combined over a lifetime, create a shared history, a friendship, a partnership, a romance. Now, that's a love story. Read more ›

40 of 52 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Botched Opportunity Revealed by Film January 27, 2000

By C. Colt

Format:Hardcover

Robert J Waller botched his opportunity to make "The Bridges of Madison County" an interesting novel. The book contains fascinating themes of conflict including the struggle of choosing between passion and loyalty, and the difficulty of coming to terms with a mother's secret love affair. Unfortunately, rather than exploring these themes, Waller makes them the vehicle for a cardboard love story.

The hero, Robert Kinkaid might have been believable if Waller had endowed him with human qualities. Instead, Waller portrays him as a middle-aged superman: lover, artist, pacifist yet war hero, impoverished, yet glamorous, lovable but unavailable. His discourse is sometimes witty and often cheesy, but never quite believable. I know that Waller wanted to make Kinkaid engaging and appealing, but the resulting character is a two dimensional fantasy.

The Heroine Francesca is a bit more believable when she expresses her erotic feelings for Kinkaid and works through the dilemma over whether to run away with him or to dutifully remain with her husband. Unfortunately, Waller renders her character meaningless with vapid remarks about how Kinkaid should go on without her because she'll only cramp his style. The condescending manner in which she posthumously explains her love affair to her children comes across as artificial, and insulting.

I think the film version of "Bridges of Madison County" starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep succeeds where the book fails. Contrary to the book, Francesca angrily accuses Kinkaid of being selfish and egotistical-a flaw which he admits. Her objection and his subsequent admission provide the relationship with more dramatic tension and make it more believable.... The fact that Kinkaid has his flaws makes him more believable and more appealing. Instead of being insipid characters that introduce the story, Francesca's children experience emotional conflict and character development of their own. The revelation of their mother's infidelity comes when each of them is experiencing a crisis in their lives. At first, the shock and shame of their mother's affair adds to their troubles. But slowly they come to terms with her affair and subsequently derive the courage and inspiration from it needed to repair their own lives.

I might not have given "Bridges of Madison County" a second thought and certainly would not have wasted time reviewing it if the film version had not revealed its failed potential to be a decent novel. Read more ›

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Book for Women Who Have Loved and Lost January 15, 2008

By Kathy O'Gorman VINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I've read the reviews on here, both positive and negative. I've also read this book, five times now. It is a story of a woman who has given up herself for the benefit of others, a scenario many people, both male and female, can relate to. When it comes to following our dreams, or doing the right thing by our families, our families usually win. The difference is, we are not usually allowed to grieve our loss. We push it down, keep a stiff upper lip and keep moving. This story has been such a popular one, because so many people can identify with the feelings of the main character, Francesca.
One reviewer asked, What if the story had been of a male farmer who had an affair with a female photographer, and then goes back to his unsuspecting wife. If he suffered the same agonizing choice, I think it would be just as important and moving as a story. I loved this book. I thought it was much better than the movie. Meryl Streep was Francesca, but Clint Eastwood just didn't seem like Robert Kincaid to me. So read, and imagine Meryl Streep and Jeff Bridges. You'll love it.