Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

 

Lincoln in the Bardo is a 2017 experimental novel by American writer George Saunders. It is Saunders's first full-length novel and was The New York Times hardcover fiction bestseller for the week of March 5, 2017. Wikipedia

Originally published: February 14, 2017

Author: George Saunders

Genres: Novel, Historical Fiction, Experimental literature, Magical Realism, Biographical Fiction

Pages: 368

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders is a 2017 novel that blends historical fiction with a unique narrative style. It won the 2017 Man Booker Prize and is Saunders' first full-length novel (he's widely known for his short stories). The novel is an experimental exploration of grief, love, and the afterlife, set against the backdrop of a real historical event—the death of President Abraham Lincoln’s son, Willie Lincoln, in 1862.

The story takes place in the "bardo," a Tibetan Buddhist concept of an in-between state where souls reside before reincarnation. The bardo in the novel is an eerie, liminal space where the spirits of the dead are confused, often unaware that they have passed on, and are caught in a kind of purgatory. This setting allows Saunders to explore themes of mortality, the human soul, and the difficulty of letting go of the dead.

The plot centers around Abraham Lincoln’s grief after the death of his 11-year-old son, Willie, who died of typhoid fever. The novel imagines that Willie’s soul is trapped in the bardo, and the story unfolds as a chorus of voices from the dead—each one narrating their own personal experiences—reflect on their lives, their regrets, and their connections to Lincoln's sorrow.

Saunders uses an unconventional narrative technique in the novel, which is told through a patchwork of voices, with no single narrator. The voices of the dead, which are fragmented, sometimes contradictory, and often humorous, reveal much about the characters' lives, the world they inhabited, and the emotions they left behind. The novel’s form, which shifts between historical facts and imaginative fiction, also gives it a sense of fluidity and surrealism.

In addition to addressing grief, the novel also explores the American Civil War, the emotional burden of leadership, and the fragility of life. It touches on deep philosophical and existential questions, using dark humor, wit, and a touch of the absurd to engage readers.

Lincoln in the Bardo is an ambitious, inventive novel that challenges traditional storytelling while providing an intimate meditation on death and the connections between the living and the dead. It’s a powerful reflection on the emotional resonance of historical events and their personal impact.

What part of the novel or its themes stood out to you the most?