A Book A Week

Reflecting on the impact of presidents throughout American history, it’s clear that some figures hold a particularly consequential place in shaping the nation. Their actions and legacies resonate through time regardless of popularity or party affiliation. Abraham Lincoln is undeniably one of these figures, a president who guided the divided nation through its bloodiest conflict. In Lincoln in the Bardo, George Saunders reimagines a small, deeply personal moment from Lincoln’s life, crafting an imaginative and haunting narrative unlike anything I’ve read. The novel captures the gravity of history and the intimate, human experiences that unfold within it, making for a truly unique exploration of one of America’s most storied leaders.

The year is 1862, and the Civil War has been tearing through the country for nearly a year, with mounting casualties and no sign of resolution. President Abraham Lincoln, already a polarizing figure, is under tremendous strain as he tries to unite a divided nation. Tragedy strikes Lincoln personally as he faces the country’s collective grief. His eleven-year-old son, Willie, fell gravely ill in the White House. Despite hopes for recovery, Willie’s condition worsened, and within days, he passed away, leaving his parents heartbroken.

Mary Todd Lincoln, overwhelmed by sorrow, is unable even to attend her son’s funeral. Shattered by the loss, Abraham spends countless hours alone in Willie’s crypt, confronting the enormity of his personal and national burdens.

Meanwhile, young Willie finds himself trapped in the realm between life and death—a purgatory known in Buddhist tradition as the bardo. Here, he encounters a menagerie of spectral characters, each suspended in this liminal space. These ghosts share reflections on their lives, contemplating their choices and the meaning they find, as Saunders intricately weaves their stories with Lincoln’s profound loss.

Finding a genuinely original novel is rare, but Lincoln in the Bardo is precisely that. George Saunders brings an unparalleled voice to this story, transforming a small historical fact into a profound exploration of metaphysics and shared humanity. The structure is striking: Saunders intersperses quotes from various historical sources, creating a layered tapestry that contemplates loss and grief. The bardo itself has a rhythm that may either captivate or alienate readers—I’m still undecided on how well it worked for me. Nonetheless, Saunders has crafted an emotionally resonant novel that reached deep into my own experience of loss, confronting sorrow while offering glimmers of hope. At a time when the U.S. stands on the brink of another pivotal political chapter, this novel feels all the more timely and significant.

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2024, 85)