Washington Square Press | Vintage Paperback | 45¢ Cover Price
This 30th printing of Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novella is part of American literary canon—and a surviving paperback edition from December 1963, printed by Washington Square Press. The cover features an illustration of the bridge itself spanning the Andes, and a contemplative portrait of Brother Juniper, the monk whose quest for meaning anchors the novel.
Originally published in 1927, The Bridge of San Luis Rey asks the eternal question: is there meaning behind tragedy, or is it random? In this slim but powerful novel, Wilder explores faith, fate, and the fragile strands that connect lives across time.
💡 This copy was part of the publisher’s mission to make great literature widely accessible—affordable, portable, and enduring. A time capsule from the golden age of mid-century paperback publishing, complete with its original 45¢ price on the spine.
 
30th printing | December 1963
Cover price: 45¢
Publisher: Washington Square Press
Copyright 1955 by Thornton Wilder
Pages show uniform tanning and some softening to corners; spine and covers structurally sound with age-related patina consistent with vintage paperback charm.