This novel, by Albanian Nobel nominee Ismail Kadare , was originally written in 1976. It tells the story of a small Balkan village in the 14th century whose inhabitants oppose a project to build a stone bridge across the river--a scheme inspired by the prophecies of a lunatic. However, after a series of mishaps, the bridge is built--and turns out to be a bridge that links the village, both literally and symbolically, to modern times. This parable-novel is based on various Albanian legends and ballads, many of which are invoked in the course of the narrative.