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Orhan Pelinkovic's Reviews > The Three-Arched Bridge
The Three-Arched Bridge
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This was a captivating read narrated in an ominous tone by our fictional chronicler, a 14th-century Albanian Catholic monk, Gjon, in which the focal characters are a stone bridge and a totemic river and their fatal encounter.
In this allegorical novel, Ismail Kadare (1936-) tells a story loosely based on and inspired by an ancient Illyrian legend of a castle construction. But instead, Kadare constructs a three-arched bridge over the unbridled Wicked Waters river. However, the construction encounters what seems to be an impassible hurdle and the townspeople's opinion was that only a human sacrifice offered to the river can overcome it.
The bridge can be seen as a metaphor for the link between Asia and Europe during the Ottoman invasion and conquer of the Balkans. The "chaining" of the river was the beginning of what was to become a permanent influence, and to some extent a disappearance, of the local traditions, cultures, and beliefs of the natives.
This short novel has some incredibly creative dialogues and reflections in which we also witness how the resurrection of old superstitions and myths can be effectively utilized to justify even the ultimate sacrifice. Thanks to my GR friend Bob for a wonderful recommendation.
In this allegorical novel, Ismail Kadare (1936-) tells a story loosely based on and inspired by an ancient Illyrian legend of a castle construction. But instead, Kadare constructs a three-arched bridge over the unbridled Wicked Waters river. However, the construction encounters what seems to be an impassible hurdle and the townspeople's opinion was that only a human sacrifice offered to the river can overcome it.
The bridge can be seen as a metaphor for the link between Asia and Europe during the Ottoman invasion and conquer of the Balkans. The "chaining" of the river was the beginning of what was to become a permanent influence, and to some extent a disappearance, of the local traditions, cultures, and beliefs of the natives.
This short novel has some incredibly creative dialogues and reflections in which we also witness how the resurrection of old superstitions and myths can be effectively utilized to justify even the ultimate sacrifice. Thanks to my GR friend Bob for a wonderful recommendation.
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Thank you so much, Ian. You are absolutely right, it's similar to 'The Bridge Over the Drina' which was written 30 years before Kadare's 'The Three-Arched Bridge'. Although, the setting and historical period of Kadare's tale takes place nearly 200 years before Andric's :).
Not my usual genre but it's a great book and the story takes place very close to home so I could relate.
Fascinating review Orhan. It's a very interesting choice for a novel and sounds like it's filled with a lot of wisdom.
Thank you so much, Annette :). I think I've surprised you when you saw a review of a novel :). Great story and writer!
Captivating review, Orhan - I'll look for a copy :). The sacrifice needed to finish the bridge reminds of a legend I vaguely remember from childhood on a man unconsciously promising his first born child to the devil to be able to finish the roof of his house which mysteriously keeps on disappearing partly during the night whatever his attempts to finish it.
Thank you, dearest Ilse :). Oh, I find your story very fascinating and I wonder what further transpires...Speaking of sacrifice, for the Big Eid Muslims are recommended to sacrifice a lamb, sheep, or other animals. However, the recent practice in my town of origin is rather than slaughtering an animal and donating the meat, the practice is now to donate the appraised market value of that slaughtered animal to the religious community to maintain the cemetery, mosque, and other facilities. So, we've shifted to a more symbolic sacrifice of the animal. More compassionate, no blood, and no one is hungry in the town. Many find this approach controversial, but it's become the norm.
I've read another of Kadare's books, so I might give this a try.