All books are shipped from New Zealand 📚

Try our Gift Wrap Service free this weekend only 🎁

WRAPITUP

Lincoln in the Bardo

WINNER OF THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2017
3.75 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating.
( 163,110 ratings, 25,100 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders imaginatively explores the aftermath of Abraham Lincoln's young son Willie’s death. Set in a graveyard, this unique tale combines historical and supernatural elements, delving into a liminal space where the dead interact and Lincoln grieves. The story is told through a tapestry of voices, blending to convey deep reflections on life, sorrow, and the human condition.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2199
GET IT FOR CHRISTMAS | OVERNIGHT DELIVERY

Found a better price? Request a price match

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy historical fiction that blends the fantastical with deeply human, emotional storytelling. It offers a unique narrative style and a moving exploration of grief, loss, and the human condition, set during a poignant moment in American history.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Lincoln in the Bardo

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

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.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

George Saunders’s debut novel is widely praised for its ingenuity, imagination, and emotional depth. Reviews highlight its inventive narrative style, mixing history and fiction to explore themes of grief and loss with humour and empathy. The novel's ability to humanize Lincoln and create a vivid, multifaceted depiction of a pivotal historical moment is a common point of acclaim. Critics describe it as a genre-busting masterpiece, emotionally involving, and a unique literary experience.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781408871775

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 08 February 2018

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 298g

Pages: 368

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)

About the Author

George Saunders is the author of nine books, including Lincoln in the Bardo, winner of the 2017 Man Booker Prize. Tenth of December was a finalist for the National Book Award and won the inaugural Folio Prize. He has received MacArthur and Guggenheim fellowships and the PEN/Malamud Prize for excellence in the short story, and was recently elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2013, he was named one of the world’s 100 most influential people by Time magazine. He teaches in the creative writing program at Syracuse University. georgesaundersbooks.com

Also by George Saunders

View all

More from Historical Fiction

View all

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent specialist on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our cozy 200m2 warehouse in Auckland holds over 10,000 books in-stock so you're not waiting for books to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Pick Ups

Auckland Pick Ups

We're an online-only store but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.

Reviews from our customers