Lincoln in the Bardo

Main Ideas

• Exploration of grief and loss through the lens of Abraham Lincoln's son, Willie's death.
• The concept of the bardo as an intermediate state between life and death, where souls are stuck, unaware of their own demise.
• The theme of love and attachment as a driving force that can keep souls in the bardo.
• Interaction between the living and the dead, and how it affects both sides.
• The political and historical context of the American Civil War and its impact on personal tragedies.
• A diversity of voices and perspectives representing different social and cultural strata.