The Bridge by Colm Tóibín review
Deep sorrow mingles with illicit desire in this potent novella, the follow-up to a 2006 story about an isolated family in the Catalan mountains
TL;DR
- The Bridge is a novella by Colm Tóibín, following Miquel from a previous story set in the Catalan Pyrenees.
- Miquel lives with his unyielding father, supplementing their income through contraband smuggling.
- A central theme is the developing, illicit love between Miquel and Manolo, his father's servant.
- Miquel also experiences a varied erotic life outside of his relationship with Manolo.
- A new road bridge connects isolated settlements, symbolizing social change and its potential for both connection and peril.
- The story is characterized by sustained reticence and focuses on themes of loss, betrayal, and survival.
- The novella functions as a standalone work but also complements "A Long Winter."