In 1862, with the Civil War nearly a year old, Abraham Lincoln's son Willie died of TB aged 11. He was buried in West Oak Cemetery in Washington DC, and a grieving and devastated Lincoln went at night to visit his son's coffin, and physically hold his dead body for one last time. Out of this single event, George Saunders creates a unique novel where Lincoln's visit is observed and commented on by the ghosts of the bodies buried in the cemetery. They each have their own story, and through them, we see Lincoln holding his dead son and experience his grief, at a pivotal moment in American history where he was consumed by the struggle for the abolition of slavery and the survival of the Union. Saunders' portrayal of his humanity, dignity and strength is profoundly moving, but the book is also a meditation on the end of life, death, and what comes next, and uses a unique, experimental and at times bizarre structure to explore these themes and relate the story. Does it work or is it just self-indulgent and pretentious? Can Willie's ghost connect with his grieving father? Is there life after death? And what exactly is a Bardo? Join Rupert and Charlie as they discuss this remarkable book, which won the Booker Prize in 2017.
