Lincoln in the Bardo

President Lincoln is devastated by the death of his young son, Willie , who succumbs to typhoid fever. The loss weighs heavily on him, affecting his ability to lead a nation embroiled in civil war. As he grapples with his grief, Lincoln visits the cemetery where Willie is interred, seeking solace and connection with his departed child. This visit sets the stage for a surreal encounter with the spirits inhabiting the cemetery, who are trapped in a state of limbo, unable to move on. The cemetery is populated by a host of spirits, each with their own unfinished business and reasons for lingering.

Theme 1: Grief's Heavy Burden

At its core, Lincoln in the Bardo is a meditation on loss — how grief reshapes us, and how we find ways to carry what we cannot leave behind. George Saunders handles these themes with sensitivity and grace, making the emotional journey feel universal.

Theme 2: Spirits in Limbo

This thread running through Lincoln in the Bardo gives the story its emotional weight. George Saunders weaves it into the narrative with skill, ensuring that the reader feels the stakes as deeply as the characters do.

Theme 3: A Father's Sorrow

This thread running through Lincoln in the Bardo gives the story its emotional weight. George Saunders weaves it into the narrative with skill, ensuring that the reader feels the stakes as deeply as the characters do.

What Readers Say About Lincoln in the Bardo

Lincoln in the Bardo has resonated with readers for its emotional honesty and vivid storytelling. Many describe finishing it in a single sitting — drawn forward by George Saunders's prose and an almost desperate need to know how it ends.

A Passage Worth Sitting With

"Grief's Heavy Burden" — George Saunders, Lincoln in the Bardo

About the Author

George Saunders is the author of Lincoln in the Bardo. Known for emotionally resonant storytelling, their work has found devoted readers across the globe.