The Bridges of Madison County, by Robert James Waller, tells the story of Francesca Johnson, an Italian war bride living on an Iowa farm, and Robert Kincaid, a free-spirited National Geographic photographer. In 1965, while her family attends the state fair, Robert arrives to photograph the county's famous covered bridges. Over four days, the two strangers share an unexpected and deeply passionate love affair. Though Robert asks Francesca to leave with him, she chooses to stay, sacrificing personal happiness for her family. After her death, her adult children discover her secret through letters and journals, forever changing how they understand their mother's quiet, unfulfilled life.
