Lincoln in the Bardo

Interesting Facts

• The book is based on the real event of Willie Lincoln's death, the son of President Abraham Lincoln, in 1862.
• The novel takes place over the course of one night in a cemetery, where the spirits of the deceased communicate with each other and the living.
• The novel is written in an unusual format, combining elements of historical chronicle, dramatic dialogue, and stream of consciousness.
• The book features over 160 voices, including historical figures and fictional characters.
• The title "bardo" refers to the Tibetan concept of an intermediate state between death and rebirth.
• The novel won the Booker Prize in 2017, marking Saunders' first major novel.