"Lincoln in the Bardo," the second novel by American author George Saunders, has won numerous awards and acclaim worldwide. Its unique narrative and beautiful storytelling has made it one of the most talked-about and critically-acclaimed books of the decade.
The story is set in a graveyard in Washington, DC in 1862, just after the death of Abraham Lincoln’s beloved son, Willie. It follows a multitude of characters in the newly-formed “bardo,” an in-between world inhabited by ghosts. The ghosts are all in various stages of denial, mourning, and in some cases, outright rage, about their own passing. The main characters include a trio of ghosts — the Reverend Everly Thomas, Hans Vollman, and Roger Bevins III — who are bound together in a shared emotional journey to help Willie move on from his death.
The story of “Lincoln in the Bardo” is an exploration of grief and its effects on the soul. Through its exquisite prose and a cast of finely-drawn characters, Saunders creates a tangible sense of loss, which he expresses through conversations among the bardo’s denizens and reflections on the past. He masterfully weaves different perspectives and accounts, including those never published yet widely known, such as Abraham Lincoln’s real-life diary entries, to create a cohesive and vivid portrait of Willie.
The novel is inspiring and heart-wrenching, but also offers moments of laughter and joy. Through its imaginative and innovative structure, it offers readers a unique experience of the human condition, of life, death and whatever comes after.
Saunders is an award-winning writer and a professor at Syracuse University. With his second novel, he offers up an astonishingly moving and complex story that taps into timeless themes of grief, loss, and hope. The novel is an insightful look at the afterlife and how its inhabitants grapple with their emotional states, as well as a pointed commentary on the human experience of mortality.
“Lincoln in the Bardo” is a remarkable book; it is emotional, evocative and surprisingly deep. The characters’ interactions with the afterlife offer a unique look at grief and the struggles of facing mortality. Saunders has produced a stunning story that is fascinating, heartbreaking and ultimately healing.
