In Episode 97 of the Good Scribes Only Podcast, hosts Daniel Breyer and Jeremy Streich take a deep dive into George Saunders’ Lincoln in the Bardo, a novel that defies genre by blending history, Buddhist philosophy, and supernatural elements. Set in a graveyard during the Civil War, the story follows the grief-stricken Abraham Lincoln as he mourns his young son, Willy. Told through a chorus of voices—both real and imagined—the novel explores themes of loss, attachment, and the struggle to let go.
Through humor, personal anecdotes, and literary analysis, Daniel and Jeremy unpack the novel’s unconventional structure, its haunting themes, and why Lincoln in the Bardo remains one of the most unique works of contemporary fiction.
At the heart of the novel is Abraham Lincoln, who visits the crypt of his recently deceased son, Willy. But the story isn’t just about Lincoln—it’s also about the spirits trapped in the bardo, a Tibetan Buddhist concept describing a liminal space between life and death.
As Lincoln struggles with his grief, the novel juxtaposes historical accounts of his mourning with the ghostly perspectives of those who remain in denial of their own deaths.
A major theme in the novel is the human tendency to resist change, particularly when it comes to loss. The ghosts in the bardo refuse to acknowledge their deaths, clinging to their past identities in absurd ways—Hans Vollman remains permanently aroused because he died before consummating his marriage, while Roger Bevins III sprouts multiple eyes and hands due to his insatiable hunger for sensory experiences.
“It’s all about attachment,” Jeremy explains. “These ghosts hold on so tightly to life that they literally reshape themselves in the afterlife.”
The novel also explores how Lincoln’s personal grief mirrors the greater sorrow of a nation at war. His loss of Willy parallels the losses of thousands of soldiers on both sides of the Civil War. Daniel reflects:
“Lincoln’s mourning isn’t just for his son—it’s for an entire country. He’s carrying the weight of a divided nation.”
Despite its heavy themes, Lincoln in the Bardo is often funny. The ghosts bicker, refuse to acknowledge their fates, and even attempt to manipulate the living. Their conversations, written in fragmented monologues, read like a play infused with slapstick humor.
“Saunders is one of the few writers who can make a book about grief genuinely hilarious,” Daniel observes.
One of the most striking aspects of Lincoln in the Bardo is its unconventional structure. Rather than traditional prose, the novel unfolds through a patchwork of dialogue, historical excerpts, and ghostly testimonies.
Jeremy compares it to a play:
“The novel reads like a theatrical production, with each ghost stepping in to tell their part of the story. It’s fragmented but immersive.”
Additionally, the audiobook version, featuring a star-studded cast including Nick Offerman, David Sedaris, and Julianne Moore, brings this unique format to life.
More than just a historical novel, Lincoln in the Bardo is a meditation on loss, love, and the universal struggle to accept change. Its blending of fact and fiction, humor and heartbreak, creates an experience that lingers long after the final page.
Jeremy concludes:
“It’s rare to find a novel that feels so fresh, so inventive, and so deeply moving. Saunders takes one of history’s saddest moments and transforms it into something transcendent.”
For an even deeper discussion of Lincoln in the Bardo, its themes, and its brilliant storytelling, tune into Episode 97 of the Good Scribes Only Podcast.
