Lincoln in the Bardo

WINNER OF THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2017

A STORY OF LOVE AFTER DEATH

‘A masterpiece’ Zadie Smith

‘Extraordinary’ Daily Mail

‘Breathtaking’ Observer

‘A tour de force’ The Sunday Times

George Saunders' extraordinary debut novel, Lincoln in the Bardo, weaves a heart-rending story set against the backdrop of the American Civil War. As the battle-lines are drawn and a nation is torn asunder, President Abraham Lincoln faces a personal tragedy: his beloved eleven-year-old son, Willie, falls grievously ill and succumbs to a fever. Willie is interred in the crypt of a Georgetown cemetery, where, overcome by unfathomable sorrow, Lincoln is rumoured to return several times to hold his boy’s lifeless body.

While grounded in this deeply human and historical moment, Saunders takes the tale into a poignant, surreal territory known as the bardo, a Tibetan concept of a transitional state between death and rebirth. Here, Willie Lincoln's soul lingers, encountering a cacophony of spirits, each with their own tales of love, regret, and unfinished business. The disembodied voices - be they raucous or reflective, desperate or tender - paint a vivid picture of this state between worlds where the living and dead intermingle.

Through this supernatural lens, Lincoln in the Bardo conjures a multi-faceted narrative, rich with humour, pathos, and philosophical inquiries. Saunders crafts a kaleidoscope of voices, offering glimpses into the perspectives of historical figures, fictional entities, and those who knew the Lincolns. The spectral inhabitants of the cemetery, with their myriad stories, engage in poignant dialogues and confrontations, ultimately embroiling young Willie's soul in a climactic struggle for salvation.

Unfolding over the course of a single, extraordinary night, this novel challenges readers with its inventive structure and imparts a profound meditation on love, loss, and the nature of existence. Saunders' deft blend of historical realism and supernatural invention affirms his standing as one of the most innovative and significant writers of our time.

With its unique form and emotionally resonant storytelling, Lincoln in the Bardo poses the timeless question: how do we endure in a world where everything we cherish must inevitably come to an end? This tour de force is not just a novel but an exploration of the human condition, rendered with Saunders' signature humour, eloquence, and grace.