Reading Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders gave me one of those rare feelings that I’d stumbled onto something genuinely original. Even if you don’t usually reach for experimental novels, this one is worth checking out simply for how it messes with format, history, and emotion all at once. The mix of historical fiction and the supernatural left me with a story that lingers long after the last page.
Getting to Know Lincoln in the Bardo
Published in 2017, Lincoln in the Bardo is George Saunders’ first novel, though he’s pretty well known for his short stories. The book scooped up the Man Booker Prize and plenty of praise for its inventive structure and emotional power. The title refers to the Tibetan term “bardo,” which describes a transitional space between death and what comes next. Most of the story plays out in a Georgetown cemetery during the American Civil War, anchored by the true event of Abraham Lincoln grieving the loss of his young son, Willie.
The story swirls around a single night, with spirits who hover between life and death trying to come to grips with what’s happened to them. At the center is President Lincoln, mourning a loss so deep he breaks social tradition by visiting his son’s crypt. I think Saunders’ decision to blend factual detail with the surreal gives the novel this uncanny vibe that keeps you reading, trying to work out exactly what’s real and what’s hauntingly possible. Saunders masterfully describes the atmosphere of the graveyard, creating a sense of suspense and wonder that made me question the boundaries between our world and the unknown. The civil war era setting, too, introduces the anxieties and sorrows of an entire nation into the emotional core of Lincoln’s personal loss.
Why Lincoln in the Bardo Feels So Different
This novel isn’t set up like a “normal” story. If you open the book, you’ll notice it’s laid out almost like a script, mixing snippets from historical accounts with ghostly monologues. Saunders uses dozens of voices, some ghosts, some snippets from nonfiction, to narrate, comment, or argue about what they’re seeing. Sometimes, these voices bicker and contradict each other about the facts. I found that the effect is both disorienting and totally absorbing. It’s not exactly an easy style to get used to, but once you settle into its rhythm, the shifting points of view actually pull you deeper into the book’s world.
There’s a lot of dark humor, too, which helps keep everything from getting too heavy. The ghostly characters all have unfinished business and quirks, and their petty fights or obsessions often made me smile, even as the book digs into some heavy feelings about loss, history, and letting go. I really appreciated how the spirits’ bickering and misunderstandings about the world above offered comic relief. It felt like a way to make heavy subject matter more approachable and, honestly, it created some of the most memorable scenes in the book.
Breaking Down the Key Themes
Saunders takes on some really big ideas, but he does it in ways that hit home on a personal level. The three themes I found most striking are grief, the afterlife, and empathy.
- Grief: At its heart, the whole novel wrestles with Lincoln’s mourning and how people (or even spirits) try to handle loss. Lincoln’s pain over his child makes the supernatural elements feel grounded and relatable. The portrayal of grief isn’t limited to Lincoln; every spirit in the cemetery is wrestling with their own regrets and pain, showing that loss is universal and touches everyone differently.
- The Afterlife: The “bardo” setting creates its own kind of purgatory, where the dead are stuck with their regrets and can’t move forward until they face what’s holding them back. The novel explores what it means to be caught in limbo, unable to let go of life or step into whatever comes next. This vision of the afterlife is both unsettling and fascinating, raising questions about how we deal with our unfinished business.
- Empathy and Connection: The story is really about reaching toward understanding, among the spirits, and between Lincoln and his son. There’s this idea that compassion is what makes change possible, in life or death. The spirits in the bardo only get a chance to move forward when they attempt to help one another, showing that even in the bleakest times, connection and empathy can light the way.
Reading Tips for Lincoln in the Bardo
If you’re picking up this book for the first time, the form can feel overwhelming. I wish I’d known a few things before jumping in, so here’s what helped me and might help you:
- Give It a Few Pages: The scriptlike layout, shifting narrators, and bits of real history can be confusing. Stick with it—the rhythm starts to make sense after a few chapters. You’ll soon pick up on the unique voices and personalities.
- An Audiobook Can Help: There’s a big, starstudded audio version with a full cast. Hearing the voices really brings out the personalities of each spirit and makes it easier to follow the flow. The performance adds an extra dimension to the novel and can make the chaotic structure much easier to follow.
- Don’t Worry About Catching Every Reference: Saunders weaves in a bunch of real documents and histories. It adds flavor, but you don’t need to track every footnote to get the feelings and ideas the story wants to share. Let the emotional truth come through, and look up details afterward if your curiosity is piqued.
Most readers find that just letting the story sort of “wash over” you on the first pass, and circling back to reread favorite parts, brings out the most enjoyment. If you allow yourself to get swept up in the rhythm and voices, you’ll soon be caught up in the moment.
Challenges and Surprises with the Book
This book has some tricky aspects, but I found they pay off. Here are a few things that tripped me up and how I got around them:
- Dense Narration: With so many narrators, it’s easy to lose track of who’s speaking. I used context clues, like the dramatic way some spirits talk or their specific obsessions, to recognize them after a while. If in doubt, focus on the main threads rather than trying to catch every nuance right away.
- Supernatural Logic: The way the “bardo” works doesn’t always follow clear rules. I made peace with not understanding every detail and just let it add to the otherworldliness. It’s the emotional reality that matters, not always the plot mechanics.
- Mix of Fact and Fiction: Sometimes it’s hard to know what’s been pulled from history and what’s Saunders’ invention. A quick Google search helped with the bigger questions. But mostly, I just enjoyed the patchwork feel of the book’s world. It encourages you to think about how history and imagination can blend in surprising ways.
Finding Meaning in the Chaos
For me, the dense and messy format actually feels just right for a story about being stuck somewhere between the living and the dead. Saunders manages to layer in hope, regret, and even a little redemption without things getting too syrupy. The odd structure gives room for all the different feelings and perspectives to crowd in, much like real emotions can when coping with big changes or loss. I think the book’s unique storytelling draws you into the confusion and hopefulness that comes from facing big transitions in life.
How Lincoln in the Bardo Connects Real History and Fiction
While the book’s core event is true; Lincoln’s son really did die young, and Lincoln visited his crypt. Most of what unfolds is pure creative invention. Saunders did a lot of research, pulling details from real letters, diaries, and period reports. These tidbits mix with purely imaginary ghostly drama, blurring the boundaries between what’s fact and what’s emotional truth. I learned that this mix actually makes Lincoln feel more human and relatable, not less. By stepping outside straight realism, Saunders explores feelings that are sometimes just too big or odd for more traditional storytelling.
- Historical Details: The setting and Lincoln’s grief are grounded in documented events. Even side characters are sometimes based on people from old records. Reading about these real backgrounds gives the novel a solid foundation that makes the supernatural elements seem even more striking.
- Invented Scenes: The conversations and struggles of the spirits are Saunders’ own inventions, full of humor and heart. The way these characters interact gives insight into what it means to be human, even after death, and adds layers to the story’s impact.
- Emotional Truth: It’s not just about what happened, but about how it might have felt, especially for Lincoln as both a father and a president balancing sorrow and duty. The emotional honesty in these imagined events is what gives the novel its staying power.
What’s especially interesting is how the novel shows that factual details aren’t always enough to get a sense of the full emotional experience of history. Sometimes, making space for the surreal and the imaginative helps pull out deeper truths about what people felt.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lincoln in the Bardo
If you’re curious but still on the fence about giving the book a shot, here are a few answers to questions I hear a lot:
Question: Is the style hard to follow?
Answer: It feels strange at first, like reading a play, but once you get the hang of it, it actually makes the voices and emotions stand out. The different narrators provide a unique portrait of every moment from various viewpoints, which makes the emotional intensity stronger.
Question: Do I need to know Civil War history?
Answer: Not at all. Even with its historical setting, the story centers more on universal emotions and the experience of grief. If you know the basics about Lincoln, you’re good. The emotional themes are accessible even without much background knowledge.
Question: Is the novel really sad?
Answer: There’s definitely some sadness, but it’s balanced with dark humor and moments of connection. By the end, I felt much more hopeful than I expected. The novel’s mix of sorrow, laughter, and even absurdity makes for a reading experience with lots of emotional variety.
How to Get the Most Out of the Story
Lincoln in the Bardo rewards slow reading and a little patience. The more you let yourself get lost in its chorus of voices and let go of trying to understand every detail, the richer the experience is. If you’re in the mood for something that stretches what a novel can do, this one is honestly a standout choice for book clubs or anyone looking for a story that’s both moving and totally unique. There’s a lot to stumble upon on each reread (I picked up on even more clever touches the second time around), and plenty to talk about no matter your usual genre tastes.
Trying out a book like this feels a bit like visiting new territory in fiction. I think it’s one of those reads that leaves you thinking, and maybe seeing both history and grief in a new light. If you’re looking for something that shakes up your expectations and invites you to get into the weird and powerful side of storytelling, Lincoln in the Bardo is well worth your time.
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