Image: georgesaundersbooks.com
Sharyn O’Halloran is the George Blumenthal Professor of Political Economics at Columbia University in New York City. Beyond her academic duties, Sharyn O’Halloran is an avid reader of historical fiction.
Lincoln in the Bardo is an experimental historical novel by American writer George Saunders. It is the author’s seventh work of fiction and first novel. The highly anticipated book received near universal acclaim from critics. Bookmarks, a review aggregator, reported zero negative reviews and just three mixed reviews out of 42 total critiques. Lincoln in the Bardo received a number of accolades, including the 2017 Man Booker Prize and best seller status with both USA Today and The New York Times.
Lincoln in the Bardo tells the story of President Abraham Lincoln by following the iconic historical figure on the night his son, Willie, is buried. Opposed to following a traditional narrative format, the novel consists almost entirely of quotes and passages derived from newspapers, historical books, and other verified sources. Furthermore, the novel moves from its historical roots into the realm of the supernatural by introducing ghostly characters from various periods of time.