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PEOPLE & ARTS Saturday 11 March 2017
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‘Bridges of Madison County’ author Robert James Waller dies

MARK KENNEDY “Bridges,” calling it sappy
AP Entertainment Writer and cliche-ridden. The In-
NEW YORK (AP) — Robert dependent newspaper
James Waller, whose best- said of the central roman-
selling, bittersweet 1992 ro- tic pair “it is hard to be-
mance novel “The Bridges lieve in, or to like, either of
of Madison County” was them.” (Publishers Weekly
turned into a movie star- was more charitable, call-
ring Meryl Streep and Clint ing the book, “quietly pow-
Eastwood and later into a erful and thoroughly cred-
soaring Broadway musical, ible.”)
has died in Texas, accord- The New York Times was
ing to a longtime friend. He dismissive: “Waller depicts
was 77. their mating dance in plod-
Scott Cawelti, of Cedar ding detail, but he fails to
Falls, Iowa, told The Associ- develop them as believ-
ated Press that Waller died able characters,” reviewer
early Friday at his home in Eils Lotozo wrote. “Instead,
Fredericksburg, Texas. He we get a lot of quasi-mys-
had been fighting multiple tical business about the
myeloma, a form of can- shaman-like photographer
cer. who overwhelms the shy,
In “Bridges,” a literary phe- bookish Francesca with ‘his
nomenon which Waller fa- sheer emotional and physi-
mously wrote in 11 days, cal power.’” In this June 5, 1995, frame grab taken from video, Robert James Waller is interviewed at the “Bridg-
the roving National Geo- Readers, however, bought es of Madison County” premiere, in Los Angeles.
graphic photographer more than 12 million copies Associated Press
Robert Kincaid spends four in 40 languages. “Bridges” Thousands signed in at the and critics. The New York ford, Iowa, and he was
days taking pictures of turned the unknown writer Chamber of Commerce of- Times said that Eastwood educated at the University
bridges and also romanc- into a multimillionaire and fice, where they could use had made “a moving, ele- of Northern Iowa and Indi-
ing Francesca Johnson, a made Madison County, restrooms marked “Rob- giac love story.” The New ana University, where he
war bride from Italy mar- Iowa, an international tour- erts” and “Francescas.” York Daily News said, “On received his doctorate. He
ried to a no-nonsense Iowa ist attraction. Waller told The Des Moines that short shelf of classic taught management, eco-
farmer. One famous line “I really do have a small Register in 1992 that “Bridg- movie romances ‘Seventh nomics, and applied math-
from the book reads: “The ego,” Waller told The New es” was “written” in his Heaven,’ ‘Brief Encoun- ematics at the University of
old dreams were good York Times in 2002. “I am mind as he drove from Des ter,’ ‘An Affair to Remem- Northern Iowa from 1968 to
dreams; they didn’t work open to rational discussion. Moines to Cedar Falls after ber’ you can now place 1991. Waller’s seven books
out but I’m glad I had If you don’t like the book photographing the cov- ‘The Bridges of Madison include “Slow Waltz in Ce-
them.” and can say why, I am will- ered bridges in Madison County.’” After the novel’s dar Bend,” which unseated
Waller’s novel reached No. ing to listen. But the criti- County. success, Waller left Iowa, “Bridges” on the best-seller
1 on The New York Times cism turned to nastiness. ... I “It’s something that’s dif- where he had grown up, list, “Border Music,” ‘’Puerto
best-seller list and stayed was stunned.” ficult to explain,” he re- and moved to a ranch Vallarta Squeeze” and “A
on it for over three years, The novel prompted cou- counted. “As I drove home, in Alpine, Texas, 50 miles Thousand County Roads:
longer than any work of ples across the world to it just came to me. I had from the nearest town. He An Epilogue to The Bridges
fiction since “The Robe,” a marry on Madison County’s some sort of Zen feeling, a also divorced his wife of 36 of Madison County.”
novel about Jesus’ cruci- covered bridges. Around high. When I got home, I years, Georgia, with whom The last, a sequel to his
fixion published in the early the town of Winterset, threw my stuff on the floor he had a daughter, and monster hit, was prompted
1950s. The Eastwood-di- population 4,200, tourists and immediately started found a new partner in Lin- by thousands of letters from
rected 1995 movie grossed arrived by the busloads, writing.” da Bow, who worked as a people who wanted to
$182 million worldwide. buying “Bridges” T-shirts, The film version was greet- landscaper. know more about the char-
Many critics made fun of perfume and postcards. ed warmly by audiences Waller grew up in Rock- acters. q

James Cameron says ‘Avatar’ sequel not coming in 2018

NEW YORK (AP) — Anoth- atar” films simultaneously. before a sequel lands in
er year, another “Avatar” Though “Avatar 2” had not theaters.
postponement. James officially been scheduled Cameron has said the
Cameron says the long- for next year, 20th Century scripts are done for all four
gestating sequel to his sci- Fox last November dated films and that pre-produc-
ence-fiction epic will not a film from Cameron’s pro- tion work continues.
be released next year. duction company for Dec. The director called it “an
“2018 is not happening,” 21, 2018. epic undertaking” ‘’not
Cameron told The Toronto That means that at least unlike building the Three
Star. Cameron has been a decade will likely follow Gorges Dam.”
developing four more “Av- Cameron’s 2009 “Avatar” But he assured fans he’s
working hard: “We’re full-
In this Thursday Jan. 28, 2010 file photo, Canadian film director tilt boogie right now,” said
James Cameron poses for photographers prior to the opening of Cameron.q
the movie Avatar in Davos, Switzerland.
Associated Press