Literary
Lincoln in the Bardo
In 1862, a president's young son dies and is laid to rest in a Washington cemetery. His spirit lingers among the other ghosts, a chorus of voices that tries to coax him onward.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 2017
- Pace
- Medium
- Length
- Medium
- Pages
- 343
- Format
- Standalone
Read this if you want an inventive, quick-moving book made of many voices, and do not mind being moved.
Skip this if you prefer conventional narration; it reads like a script with quoted fragments and ghostly overlapping speakers.
The feel
Content warnings
Also reported by Hardcover readers:
Quick answers about Lincoln in the Bardo
- What is Lincoln in the Bardo about?
- In 1862, a president's young son dies and is laid to rest in a Washington cemetery. His spirit lingers among the other ghosts, a chorus of voices that tries to coax him onward.
- Who should read Lincoln in the Bardo?
- Read it if you want an inventive, quick-moving book made of many voices, and do not mind being moved. Skip it if you prefer conventional narration; it reads like a script with quoted fragments and ghostly overlapping speakers.
- How long and how fast is Lincoln in the Bardo?
- It is a medium-paced, medium read of about 343 pages, first published in 2017.
- Does Lincoln in the Bardo have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Death, Grief, Child death, War, Racism.
- Can I borrow Lincoln in the Bardo for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends Lincoln in the Bardo; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after Lincoln in the Bardo?
- Readers who liked it often move on to The Lovely Bones, The Book Thief, Slaughterhouse-Five.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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Because you might love it
If you loved Lincoln in the Bardo
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The Lovely Bones
Another novel that gives the dead a voice and treats grief as something both sad and strangely hopeful.
-
The Book Thief
A war-time story narrated by Death that also looks at loss from an unexpected angle.
-
Slaughterhouse-Five
Likewise mixes history, tragedy and surreal elements in a short, formally playful book.
Literary
