#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • WINNER OF THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE The “devastatingly moving” (People) first novel from the author of Tenth of December: a moving and original father-son story featuring none other than Abraham Lincoln, as well as an unforgettable cast of supporting characters, living and dead, historical and invented One of The New York Times’s 100 Best Books of the 21st Century • One of The Atlantic’s Great American Novels of the Past 100 Years • One of Paste’s Best Novels of the Decade Named One of the Ten Best Books of the Year by The Washington Post, USA Today, and Maureen Corrigan, NPR • One of Time’s Ten Best Novels of the Year • A New York Times Notable Book • One of O: The Oprah Magazine’s Best Books of the Year 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 returns, alone, to the crypt several times 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 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 to ask a timeless, profound question: How do we live and love when we know that everything we love must end? “A luminous feat of generosity and humanism.”—Colson Whitehead, The New York Times Book Review “A masterpiece.”—Zadie Smith
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About the author
George Saunders
Author
George Saunders is an American writer of short stories, essays, novellas, children's books, and novels. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's, McSweeney's, and GQ. He also contributed a weekly column, "American Psyche", to The Guardian's weekend magazine between 2006 and 2008.
Lincoln in the Bardo
by George Saunders
Books Like Lincoln in the Bardo
If you're looking for books similar to Lincoln in the Bardo, here are some recommendations based on themes, tone, and narrative style.
One Hundred Years of Solitude
Gabriel García Márquez
A landmark magical realist novel that blends historical narrative with supernatural elements. Like Saunders' work, it uses innovative storytelling to explore family, memory, and the cyclical nature of human experience. The multi-generational story of the Buendía family creates a rich, mythical exploration of time, love, and human complexity.
Beloved
Toni Morrison
A haunting novel about the psychological impact of slavery and loss. Similar to 'Lincoln in the Bardo', it uses supernatural elements to explore grief, memory, and the human spirit. The story centers on a mother's traumatic past and the ghostly presence of her deceased child, creating a powerful meditation on historical trauma and personal healing.
The Road
Cormac McCarthy
A post-apocalyptic novel that, like 'Lincoln in the Bardo', explores profound themes of love, loss, and human resilience. The story follows a father and son's journey through a devastated landscape, examining the depths of human connection in the face of overwhelming tragedy. Its spare, poetic prose and emotional depth create a powerful meditation on survival and compassion.
Kafka on the Shore
Haruki Murakami
A surreal novel that blends magical realism with profound philosophical exploration. Similar to Saunders' work, it uses supernatural elements to explore deeper themes of consciousness, identity, and human connection. The parallel narratives of a teenage runaway and an older man create a complex, dreamlike meditation on reality and perception.
The Underground Railroad
Colson Whitehead
A powerful historical novel that reimagines the Underground Railroad as a literal subterranean train system. Like Saunders' work, it blends historical reality with magical realism and explores themes of human suffering and resilience during a pivotal moment in American history. The novel follows a young slave's journey to freedom, using innovative storytelling techniques that challenge traditional narrative structures.
Wolf Hall
Hilary Mantel
A historical novel that reimagines a familiar historical period through a fresh narrative lens. Like Saunders' work, it offers a deeply human perspective on historical figures, focusing on Thomas Cromwell's rise to power in Henry VIII's court. The novel's innovative approach to historical fiction creates a rich, immersive exploration of power, politics, and personal transformation.
The Goldfinch
Donna Tartt
A Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that, like 'Lincoln in the Bardo', explores themes of loss, memory, and personal transformation. The story follows a young man's journey after a traumatic event, using rich prose and complex character development to create a deeply emotional narrative. Its exploration of art, survival, and human resilience offers a powerful literary experience.
The Sympathizer
Viet Thanh Nguyen
A complex novel that, similar to 'Lincoln in the Bardo', challenges traditional narrative perspectives. The story follows a Vietnamese spy navigating the aftermath of the Vietnam War, using dark humor and innovative storytelling to explore identity, cultural conflict, and personal trauma. Its unique narrative voice and historical depth create a powerful literary experience.
Cloud Atlas
David Mitchell
A complex, multi-layered novel that challenges traditional narrative structures. Similar to Saunders' work, it uses interconnected stories spanning different time periods and genres to explore themes of human connection and historical continuity. The book's innovative approach creates a rich, philosophical exploration of time, identity, and human experience.
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
Junot Díaz
A genre-bending novel that combines historical narrative with magical realism and multiple narrative voices. Like Saunders' work, it explores family, loss, and cultural identity through an innovative storytelling approach. The book follows a Dominican-American family's multi-generational story, blending humor, tragedy, and supernatural elements.
The Overstory
Richard Powers
An ambitious novel that, like 'Lincoln in the Bardo', uses innovative narrative techniques to explore interconnected human experiences. The book weaves together multiple storylines centered around trees and environmental consciousness, creating a profound meditation on human relationships with nature. Its unique structure and philosophical depth challenge traditional storytelling approaches.
The Midnight Library
Matt Haig
A philosophical novel that explores alternate life paths and personal choice. Similar to Saunders' work, it uses a unique narrative concept to explore deeper themes of human experience and possibility. The story follows a woman who can explore different versions of her life, creating a poignant meditation on regret, potential, and personal meaning.
House of Leaves
Mark Z. Danielewski
An experimental novel that challenges traditional narrative structure, similar to Saunders' innovative approach. The book explores themes of perception, reality, and psychological space through a complex, multi-layered narrative. Its unconventional format and exploration of metaphysical concepts create a unique reading experience that pushes literary boundaries.
The Sellout
Paul Beatty
A satirical novel that, like 'Lincoln in the Bardo', uses innovative storytelling to explore complex social themes. The book follows an African American man's absurdist attempt to reinstate slavery and segregation, using dark humor to critique racial dynamics in America. Its bold narrative approach and sharp social commentary create a unique literary experience.
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