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In February 1862, amidst the early turmoil of the Civil War, President Lincoln's eleven-year-old son, Willie, falls gravely ill and soon dies, leaving the president heartbroken. Lincoln, mourning his loss, visits Willie's crypt multiple times, expressing his sorrow with poignant words: "My poor boy, he was too good for this earth." From this historical moment, George Saunders weaves a narrative that transcends reality into a supernatural realm filled with humor and terror. Willie finds himself in a peculiar purgatory, a bardo, where ghosts interact in a chaotic yet poignant manner, engaging in grievances and strange penances. This liminal space becomes the backdrop for a monumental struggle over Willie's soul. The story is a remarkable exploration of love and loss, showcasing Saunders' imaginative prowess and his ability to address profound emotional truths. With a unique narrative style, he creates a vibrant tapestry of voices that confronts the essential question of how to live and love in the face of inevitable loss. This work stands as a testament to the power of fiction to resonate deeply with our most significant experiences and emotions.
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Lincoln in the Bardo, George Saunders
- Language
- Released
- 2017
- product-detail.submit-box.info.binding
- (Hardcover)
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- Title
- Lincoln in the Bardo
- Language
- English
- Authors
- George Saunders
- Publisher
- Random House LCC US
- Released
- 2017
- Format
- Hardcover
- Pages
- 343
- ISBN10
- 0812995341
- ISBN13
- 9780812995343
- Series
- Tags
- Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Love, Friendship, USA, American Literature, Death, America, Loss, Diseases, Ghosts and Apparitions, Mourning, Race, Racism, Magical Realism, Father, Son, Afterlife, Cemeteries, Sadness, Experimental Literature, Booker Prize, Abraham Lincoln, 1809–1865, Typhus
- First published
- 2017
- Original title
- Lincoln in the Bardo
- Rating
- 3.75 out of 5
- Description
- In February 1862, amidst the early turmoil of the Civil War, President Lincoln's eleven-year-old son, Willie, falls gravely ill and soon dies, leaving the president heartbroken. Lincoln, mourning his loss, visits Willie's crypt multiple times, expressing his sorrow with poignant words: "My poor boy, he was too good for this earth." From this historical moment, George Saunders weaves a narrative that transcends reality into a supernatural realm filled with humor and terror. Willie finds himself in a peculiar purgatory, a bardo, where ghosts interact in a chaotic yet poignant manner, engaging in grievances and strange penances. This liminal space becomes the backdrop for a monumental struggle over Willie's soul. The story is a remarkable exploration of love and loss, showcasing Saunders' imaginative prowess and his ability to address profound emotional truths. With a unique narrative style, he creates a vibrant tapestry of voices that confronts the essential question of how to live and love in the face of inevitable loss. This work stands as a testament to the power of fiction to resonate deeply with our most significant experiences and emotions.