Alexander's Bridge

This is Willa Cather's first novel, published in 1912. The main character, Bartley Alexander, is a famous bridge builder who commits adultery when he becomes involved with a former lover. Conflicted with the dual impulse toward excitement and safety, he is beset with guilt and a lost sense of honor. Cather is considered one of the great writers of the twentieth century and an important figure in the development of the American novel.