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The Bridge
When Ben O'Betany -a misguided engineering student- is partnered with the girl he's been plagiarizing, he begins seeing the world in a new light as they research tragic events behind the Quebec Bridge disaster.
Modern and Victorian era timelines intersect after the students discover a journal penned by one of the men who worked on the bridge:
Alec Durand, a newlywed outsider with dreams of becoming an engineer, is thrust into responsibility after his arrogant boss neglects his duty as chief engineer, and returns to New York.
The Bridge is a wonderful coming-of-age story based on true events that changed Canadian history, by inspiring the Ritual Calling of an Engineer, and the Iron Ring.
Modern and Victorian era timelines intersect after the students discover a journal penned by one of the men who worked on the bridge:
Alec Durand, a newlywed outsider with dreams of becoming an engineer, is thrust into responsibility after his arrogant boss neglects his duty as chief engineer, and returns to New York.
The Bridge is a wonderful coming-of-age story based on true events that changed Canadian history, by inspiring the Ritual Calling of an Engineer, and the Iron Ring.
216 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 26, 2021
3 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Palmer
3 books1 followerAndrew Palmer grew up in Oakville, Ontario. He graduated from computer engineering and joined the Directors Guild of Canada to work in TV & Film production.
His interests are in science fiction and politics, with some of his favourite storytellers including Robert Heinlein, George Orwell and Issac Asimov.
His interests are in science fiction and politics, with some of his favourite storytellers including Robert Heinlein, George Orwell and Issac Asimov.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 1, 2022
Based on the Quebec Bridge Disaster of 1907, The Bridge began as a screenplay. From its dedication—“Big Tech: Actions have consequences”—and opening quote from Margaret Meade—“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world”—the author emphasizes the seriousness of the subject matter.
In the present, the protagonists are Ben and Esther, senior-year engineering students at a Canadian university. Ben is a short-cut taking, system-gaming partier; Esther is serious and astute. When their professor pairs them for an Ethics project, sparks fly as they unpack the events of the Disaster.
Using their project as a literary device, Palmer goes back in time to the precipitating events and tragic culmination, out of which, with the support of Kipling, came the advent of the Iron Ring ceremony (which the author knows firsthand). In a private ritual, graduating engineers are given a ring of iron—rough-cut so it snags—which they wear on their left pinkie as a reminder of the seriousness of their work and its potential consequences.
Our hero in the past is Alec, a laborer and gifted engineer. A newlywed and soon to be father, Alec is motivated to make the most of the bridge project. Reminiscent of Follett’s Pillars of the Earth (and Titanic, which continues to loom like a spectre) we see how the engineers, site managers, labor supervisors, and laborers (“skywalkers”) constellate around the project, representing different levels of meaning and engagement. For some, it’s a paycheck. For others, a stepping-stone to promotion. For others, like New York–based designer Cardinal, it’s about prestige.
Cardinal’s set in opposition to the local consulting engineer, McDougall, the archetype of the Warner who sees the flaws in the design, as do the supervisors, as the project proceeds, but to whom Cardinal won’t listen.
As Palmer deftly navigates parallel timelines, moving each to its inevitable climax, there’s growth, realization, betrayal, loss of life, and several secrets revealed.
As a historical novelist and teaching-artist, I’m conscious of the dangers of looking at the morality of the past through modern lenses; Palmer’s approach is flawless. The whole point is that Ben’s slacker mindset is not commensurate with the role of the engineer. Considering the Silver Bridge Disaster of 1967 and the Minneapolis bridge collapse forty years later, The Bridge is a novel with gravitas, told by a storyteller with the necessary knowledge and skill.
In the present, the protagonists are Ben and Esther, senior-year engineering students at a Canadian university. Ben is a short-cut taking, system-gaming partier; Esther is serious and astute. When their professor pairs them for an Ethics project, sparks fly as they unpack the events of the Disaster.
Using their project as a literary device, Palmer goes back in time to the precipitating events and tragic culmination, out of which, with the support of Kipling, came the advent of the Iron Ring ceremony (which the author knows firsthand). In a private ritual, graduating engineers are given a ring of iron—rough-cut so it snags—which they wear on their left pinkie as a reminder of the seriousness of their work and its potential consequences.
Our hero in the past is Alec, a laborer and gifted engineer. A newlywed and soon to be father, Alec is motivated to make the most of the bridge project. Reminiscent of Follett’s Pillars of the Earth (and Titanic, which continues to loom like a spectre) we see how the engineers, site managers, labor supervisors, and laborers (“skywalkers”) constellate around the project, representing different levels of meaning and engagement. For some, it’s a paycheck. For others, a stepping-stone to promotion. For others, like New York–based designer Cardinal, it’s about prestige.
Cardinal’s set in opposition to the local consulting engineer, McDougall, the archetype of the Warner who sees the flaws in the design, as do the supervisors, as the project proceeds, but to whom Cardinal won’t listen.
As Palmer deftly navigates parallel timelines, moving each to its inevitable climax, there’s growth, realization, betrayal, loss of life, and several secrets revealed.
As a historical novelist and teaching-artist, I’m conscious of the dangers of looking at the morality of the past through modern lenses; Palmer’s approach is flawless. The whole point is that Ben’s slacker mindset is not commensurate with the role of the engineer. Considering the Silver Bridge Disaster of 1967 and the Minneapolis bridge collapse forty years later, The Bridge is a novel with gravitas, told by a storyteller with the necessary knowledge and skill.
February 27, 2023
My review was rejected by OBC because I forgot to mention the the book contains some profanity! (The profanity did not bother me at all, because it was always functional.) Thus I post my review here:
The bridge by Andrew Palmer is a historical novel about the Quebec bridge disaster of 1907 and the Iron Ring ceremony that originated from that tragedy. There is also a modern storyline connected to the history of the disaster. The author is qualified in the field of engineering, so he could write about the technical aspects of the building and falling of the bridge in a knowledgeable way. The book was originally written as a screenplay with Robyn Miller and later adapted as a book. This is not surprising, as Palmer is working in TV and Film production.
The story is presented from various points of few. Firstly, there is Ben O’Betany, an engineering student near the end of his studies. Ben and his friend Tyler are inseparable since childhood and Tyler is the instigator of most of their wild and funny endeavours. Ben comes from a proud line of engineers, but also from a home life full of anger and resentment.
Esther Emami is his classmate from immigrant parents. She is an extremely hard worker and comes from a very tight and strict family. She is driven and able to stand her ground, but on the social side she is very unsure of herself.
The conflict in the modern storyline comes from Ben and Esther being partnered to write their final assignment about the ethics of engineering. They are total opposites and Ben has also something on his conscience regarding Esther. During their working together Ben gradually gains respect for Esther and starts questioning his own approach of booze, parties and studying as little possible.
Alec is the main character in the historic storyline. He has intelligence, integrity and physical strength, but lacks self-confidence and the skill to express himself. He is married to Ginette and loves her above all, but feels inferior to her and her family. In his quest to supply for her he works himself to pieces as a day laborer on the Quebec bridge. With Ginette’s support he eventually qualifies as an engineer, but still lacks confidence.
The historical and modern storylines are drawn together by Alec’s diary which the students discover in the library. Through his writing Ben and Esther learn a lot about his personal and professional struggles and the events that led up to the falling of the bridge.
The author succeeded in holding these storylines so tight that I could not stop reading. The fact that the reader knows it is not going to be a happy ending for all the characters does not decrease the power of the story. Indeed, it increases the grip of the narrative, as you are so anxious to see how it is going to happen and especially to know Alec’s fate. You also cannot wait to see the development of the relationship between Ben and Esther, because you know something that she does not know.
I really loved the personal growth that Ben experienced through his exposure to Alec’s story. His growing up is enhanced by a painful discovery he makes via the story of the disaster. It leads to the ceremony of the Iron Ring being really meaningful to him and a deep realization of the serious responsibility of an engineer’s work. He starts his career with a totally different mindset as the senior engineers in Alec’s story, who were more concerned with their own status and income than with the lives of the labourers.
The worlds of the various characters are portrayed in a convincing manner and each of them gripped this reader. The Canadian perspective interested me, because popular literature in that setting has not been abundant in my experience. The portraying of the lifestyle in the early 1900’s was also interesting, especially in respect to the role of women and the upcoming labor movement. Ben’s free student life consisting mostly of drinking and partying stands in stark contrast to Esther’s closeknit family, where she is loved and cared for, but where she also feels restricted and yearns for more personal freedom.
The only thing that I did not like was the character of Ginette, being painted as just too beautiful, too understanding, too good to be true. Although I see that she was a woman of her time, and appreciates the strength she finds later, she was not a convincing character.
I could not find a single error in the text and gladly rate it at 4 out of 4 stars.
I recommend this book for everybody who enjoys historic fiction with characters one can relate to and for whom a happy ending is not compulsory.
The bridge by Andrew Palmer is a historical novel about the Quebec bridge disaster of 1907 and the Iron Ring ceremony that originated from that tragedy. There is also a modern storyline connected to the history of the disaster. The author is qualified in the field of engineering, so he could write about the technical aspects of the building and falling of the bridge in a knowledgeable way. The book was originally written as a screenplay with Robyn Miller and later adapted as a book. This is not surprising, as Palmer is working in TV and Film production.
The story is presented from various points of few. Firstly, there is Ben O’Betany, an engineering student near the end of his studies. Ben and his friend Tyler are inseparable since childhood and Tyler is the instigator of most of their wild and funny endeavours. Ben comes from a proud line of engineers, but also from a home life full of anger and resentment.
Esther Emami is his classmate from immigrant parents. She is an extremely hard worker and comes from a very tight and strict family. She is driven and able to stand her ground, but on the social side she is very unsure of herself.
The conflict in the modern storyline comes from Ben and Esther being partnered to write their final assignment about the ethics of engineering. They are total opposites and Ben has also something on his conscience regarding Esther. During their working together Ben gradually gains respect for Esther and starts questioning his own approach of booze, parties and studying as little possible.
Alec is the main character in the historic storyline. He has intelligence, integrity and physical strength, but lacks self-confidence and the skill to express himself. He is married to Ginette and loves her above all, but feels inferior to her and her family. In his quest to supply for her he works himself to pieces as a day laborer on the Quebec bridge. With Ginette’s support he eventually qualifies as an engineer, but still lacks confidence.
The historical and modern storylines are drawn together by Alec’s diary which the students discover in the library. Through his writing Ben and Esther learn a lot about his personal and professional struggles and the events that led up to the falling of the bridge.
The author succeeded in holding these storylines so tight that I could not stop reading. The fact that the reader knows it is not going to be a happy ending for all the characters does not decrease the power of the story. Indeed, it increases the grip of the narrative, as you are so anxious to see how it is going to happen and especially to know Alec’s fate. You also cannot wait to see the development of the relationship between Ben and Esther, because you know something that she does not know.
I really loved the personal growth that Ben experienced through his exposure to Alec’s story. His growing up is enhanced by a painful discovery he makes via the story of the disaster. It leads to the ceremony of the Iron Ring being really meaningful to him and a deep realization of the serious responsibility of an engineer’s work. He starts his career with a totally different mindset as the senior engineers in Alec’s story, who were more concerned with their own status and income than with the lives of the labourers.
The worlds of the various characters are portrayed in a convincing manner and each of them gripped this reader. The Canadian perspective interested me, because popular literature in that setting has not been abundant in my experience. The portraying of the lifestyle in the early 1900’s was also interesting, especially in respect to the role of women and the upcoming labor movement. Ben’s free student life consisting mostly of drinking and partying stands in stark contrast to Esther’s closeknit family, where she is loved and cared for, but where she also feels restricted and yearns for more personal freedom.
The only thing that I did not like was the character of Ginette, being painted as just too beautiful, too understanding, too good to be true. Although I see that she was a woman of her time, and appreciates the strength she finds later, she was not a convincing character.
I could not find a single error in the text and gladly rate it at 4 out of 4 stars.
I recommend this book for everybody who enjoys historic fiction with characters one can relate to and for whom a happy ending is not compulsory.
February 3, 2023
A touching story
This moving historical fiction story places two engineering students, Ben and Esther, in a project together to research the bridge disaster in Quebec that influenced all future engineers. The research made indelible changes in both their lives.
I thoroughly enjoyed following the trajectory of Ben and Esther’s story as they learned about the lives of those involved in the construction of the first Quebec Bridge. I look forward to reading more by this author.
This moving historical fiction story places two engineering students, Ben and Esther, in a project together to research the bridge disaster in Quebec that influenced all future engineers. The research made indelible changes in both their lives.
I thoroughly enjoyed following the trajectory of Ben and Esther’s story as they learned about the lives of those involved in the construction of the first Quebec Bridge. I look forward to reading more by this author.
June 25, 2023
You won't want to put it down !
Based in Canada; the building of the Quebec bridge. A telling of a new engineer, Alec Durrand, who is thrown into the belly of the beast to create a monument that will withstand time while keeping his men safe...and alive. But what withstands time is not the bridge itself, but Alec's legacy that becomes known as the ring of promise that all engineers would forever wear.
Based in Canada; the building of the Quebec bridge. A telling of a new engineer, Alec Durrand, who is thrown into the belly of the beast to create a monument that will withstand time while keeping his men safe...and alive. But what withstands time is not the bridge itself, but Alec's legacy that becomes known as the ring of promise that all engineers would forever wear.
Read
June 25, 2022DNF bc lack of time, seems good tho!
January 31, 2023
A story within a story within a story - engineering students, an engineer of the Quebec Bridge and the Quebec Bridge disaster itself.
November 21, 2023
I could not get past the fact that the journal entries were written in the 3rd person. However, the story of the iron ring was very interesting.
February 5, 2023
This book was not only informative but was also a great story! Full review on Onlinebookclub.org
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews