Francesca Johnson is a fictional character from the novel "The Bridges of Madison County" by Robert James Waller. She is a middle-aged Italian-American woman living on a farm in Iowa during the 1960s. Francesca is portrayed as a devoted wife and mother, yet she yearns for deeper emotional connections and experiences beyond her rural life. In the story, Francesca's life changes when she meets Robert Kincaid, a traveling photographer. Their brief but intense romance challenges her perceptions of love and fulfillment, leading her to make significant choices about her life and relationships. The narrative explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the passage of time.