Lincoln in the Bardo
by George Saunders · 2017
Literary Fiction · ranked #144 in category
Winner · The Booker Prize, 2017
Abraham Lincoln visits the Washington cemetery where his son Willie has just been buried, and the novel unfolds through the voices of the ghosts inhabiting the bardo — the intermediate state between death and whatever comes next — as they witness Lincoln's grief and try to help Willie move on. Saunders's Man Booker-winning debut novel is formally unlike anything else.
UK visitors: Bookshop.org supports independent bookshops. All links open a search — never a specific listing. As an Amazon Associate and Bookshop.org affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases.
The verdict
- Category
- Literary Fiction
- Author
- George Saunders
- Standing
- Essential Read
About Literary Fiction
Literary fiction sits at the intersection of fine writing and serious storytelling — novels that reward attention and stay with you long after the last page. These are the books that alter your sense of what's possible in prose.
More by George Saunders
If you liked this
More literary fiction worth your shelf. See the full books like Lincoln in the Bardo list. Or try our book club guide.
Featured in
Ready to read it?
Get Lincoln in the Bardo
As an Amazon Associate, Bookshop.org and CJ Affiliate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Between books? Read magazines too.
Book readers love Magzter — 10,000+ magazines and newspapers on any device, 50% off the annual GOLD plan.
Start Reading — 50% off Annual Plan →