The Bridges of Madison County fantasy in which a virile stranger materializes in the kitchen of a quiet housewife and takes her into his arms." The book debuted on the "New York Times" bestseller list in August 1992 and slowly climbed to number 1, and remained on the list for over three years (164 consecutive weeks), through October 8, 1995. "The Bridges of Madison County" was made into a 1995 film of the same name, adapted by Richard LaGravenese and directed by Clint Eastwood. It stars Eastwood and Meryl Streep. "The Bridges of Madison County" was adapted into a Tony Award-winning musical with music and
Benjamin Bridges Benjamin Bridges Benjamin D. Bridges Sr. (born August 30, 1940, in Ila, Madison County, Georgia) is a former Republican politician and one-time member of the Georgia House of Representatives. Bridges represented Georgia's 10th district, based about the city of Cleveland, between 1997 and 2008. He was chairman of the House Retirement Committee, and was replaced as the 10th district's representative by fellow Republican Rick Austin in 2008. Born in 1940, Bridges graduated from high school in 1959 and received a barber license in 1960. He worked as a barber for six years before joining the Georgia State Patrol in 1966.