Last night the winner of the Man Booker 2017 prize was announced as Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders. Lincoln in the Bardo tells the story of a night in the life of Abraham Lincoln. It’s based on an actual moment of history in 1862, when the body of Lincoln’s 11-year-old son was laid to rest. Shattered by grief, Abraham arrives at the cemetery alone, under cover of darkness. Unfolding in the graveyard over a single night, narrated by a dazzling chorus of ghostly voices, this is a story about death, grief and the deeper meaning and possibilities of life.

One of our Man Booker Prize shadow reading groups said:

“The style of Lincoln in the Bardo seemed quite intimidating at first, but it turned out to not be a difficult read. We were all glad to have read it and it certainly made for a lively discussion. There are many interwoven layers to be debated and reflected upon, both in the telling of the story and the style of the writing. We could have talked about it for hours!”

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