Lincoln in the BardoLincoln in the Bardo
Score Modern
What it's about
In February 1862, as the Civil War rages, Abraham Lincoln's eleven-year-old son Willie dies. Lincoln, grief-stricken, visits the crypt at night to hold his son's body. Around them, a chorus of ghosts trapped in the bardo, a state between death and what comes next, watches and argues, and they decide they must help Willie move on.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Booker Prize, and the New York Times named it one of the best books of the 21st century. It's strange, funny and heartbreaking.
You'll love it if you liked
Tenth of December
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida
PastoraliaGood to know
It's written like a play, with dozens of voices and quotations from historical sources, some real and some invented. It takes a few pages to get into.
By the numbers
- Readers4 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics86 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller58 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz5 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #176 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #778 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1458 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
More by George Saunders
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Quick answers
Is Lincoln in the Bardo worth reading?
Yes. It won the Booker Prize, and the New York Times named it one of the best books of the 21st century. It ranks #1,458 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 68.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Lincoln in the Bardo about?
In February 1862, as the Civil War rages, Abraham Lincoln's eleven-year-old son Willie dies. Lincoln, grief-stricken, visits the crypt at night to hold his son's body. Around them, a chorus of ghosts trapped in the bardo, a state between death and what comes next, watches and argues, and they decide they must help Willie move on.
How long does it take to read Lincoln in the Bardo?
About 9 hours (343 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has Lincoln in the Bardo won?
Booker Prize winner (2017).
What should I read after Lincoln in the Bardo?
If you liked it, try Tenth of December by George Saunders, The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka or Pastoralia by George Saunders.