Book: Lincoln in the Bardo

"Lincoln in the Bardo" by George Saunders is a profoundly imaginative exploration of grief, love, and the liminal space between life and death. Set over the course of a single night in 1862, the narrative unfolds in a graveyard where Willie Lincoln, the young son of President Abraham Lincoln, is newly interred. As President Lincoln visits his son's crypt, the scene is observed by a chorus of restless spirits—ghosts trapped in the bardo, a Tibetan term for the transitional state between death and rebirth. These ghosts narrate their own poignant stories, revealing a tapestry of voices that span eras and experiences. Saunders expertly weaves reality and the supernatural into a deeply human tale that reflects on the nature of sorrow and the connections that transcend mortality. Through a blend of historical fact and inventive fiction, "Lincoln in the Bardo" challenges readers to consider the complexities of loss and the enduring power of compassion.