Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
The novel is set in a graveyard over the course of a single night and is narrated by a dazzling chorus of voices. The story is centered around the death of President Lincoln's 11-year-old son Willie, who resides in the Bardo, a transitional state between life and rebirth in Tibetan tradition. As Willie interacts with the other spirits stuck in this realm, his father visits the crypt to mourn, causing a struggle among the ghosts over the boy's soul. The narrative explores themes of grief, the impermanence of life, and the unresolved issues that keep us from moving on.
The 939th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 2017
- Nationality
- American
- Type
- Fiction
- Pages
- 343
- Words
- 77,000
- Original Language
- English
- Alternate Titles
- None
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This book is on the following 16 lists:
- 5th on The 40 Best Novels of the 2010s (Paste Magazine)
- 6th on Truelit's 100 Best Books of the Quarter Century (/r/truelit)
- 12th on Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 16th on Readers Pick Their 100 Best Books of the 21st Century (NY Times)
- 18th on 100 Best Books of the 21st Century (NY Times)
- 94th on TrueLit's Top 100 Favorite Books (2023) (/r/TrueLit)
- 127th on Our Users' Favorite Books of All Time (The Greatest Books Users)
- 70 Classic Booker Prize-Nominated Novels, Recommended by our Readers (Booker Prize Library Readers)
- 21 books for the XXI century (Cultura/s)
- 52 Award-Winning Titles Every Book Lover Should Read (Book)
- 25 Books to Read Before you Die: 21st Century (Powell's Books)
- 222 Best Books of All Time That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf, With Picks from Bestselling Authors and Indie Booksellers (Parade)
- Bill Gate's Book Recommendations (Bill Gates)
- The Great American Novels (The Atlantic)
- 200 Books That Shaped 200 Years of Literature (The Center for Fiction)
- Man Booker Prize (Man Booker Prize)