Lincoln in the Bardo
by George Saunders
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders holds a well received rating of 3.93 out of 5, based on 20.4K reader ratings. First published in 2017. The book spans 343 pages.
About Lincoln in the Bardo
In his long-awaited first novel, American master George Saunders delivers his most original, transcendent, and moving work yet. Unfolding in a graveyard over the course of a single night, narrated by a dazzling chorus of voices, Lincoln in the Bardo is a literary experience unlike any other—for no one but Saunders could conceive it.February 1862. The Civil War is less than one year old. The fighting has begun in earnest, and the nation has begun to realize it is in for a long, bloody struggle. Meanwhile, President Lincoln’s beloved eleven-year-old son, Willie, lies upstairs in the White House, gravely ill. In a matter of days, despite predictions of a recovery, Willie dies and is laid to rest in a Georgetown cemetery. “My poor boy, he was too good for this earth,” the president says at the time. “God has called him home.” Newspapers report that a grief-stricken Lincoln returned to the crypt several times alone to hold his boy’s body.From that seed of historical truth, George Saunders spins an unforgettable story of familial love and loss that breaks free of its realistic, historical framework into a thrilling, supernatural realm both hilarious and terrifying. Willie Lincoln finds himself in a strange purgatory, where ghosts mingle, gripe, commiserate, quarrel, and enact bizarre acts of penance. Within this transitional state—called, in the Tibetan tradition, the bardo—a monumental struggle erupts over young Willie’s soul.Lincoln in the Bardo is an astonishing feat of imagination and a bold step forward from one of the most important and influential writers of his generation. Formally daring, generous in spirit, deeply concerned with matters of the heart, it is a testament to fiction’s ability to speak honestly and powerfully to the things that really matter to us. Saunders has invented a thrilling new form that deploys a kaleidoscopic, theatrical panorama of voices—living and dead, historical and invented—to ask a timeless, profound question: How do we live and love when we know that everything we love must end?
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Author | George Saunders |
| Published | 2017 |
| Pages | 343 |
| Genres | Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fantasy |
| Average Rating | 3.93 / 5.00 |
| Total Ratings | 20,373 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What genre is Lincoln in the Bardo?
Lincoln in the Bardo is categorized as Fiction, Historical Fiction, Fantasy. Its primary genre classification is Fantasy.
Is Lincoln in the Bardo worth reading?
Based on 20.4K reader ratings, Lincoln in the Bardo has an average score of 3.93 out of 5.00, which is considered "Well Received."
How many pages is Lincoln in the Bardo?
Lincoln in the Bardo has 343 pages.
Who wrote Lincoln in the Bardo?
Lincoln in the Bardo was written by George Saunders. It was first published in 2017.
What is the ISBN for Lincoln in the Bardo?
The ISBN-13 for Lincoln in the Bardo is 9780812995340.0.
Data sourced from community book ratings and reviews. Last updated: April 15, 2026
