Lincoln in the Bardo
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Lincoln in the Bardo
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By:
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George Saunders
About this listen
Winner of the 2017 Man Booker Prize
In his long-awaited first novel, American master George Saunders delivers his most original, transcendent and moving work yet. Unfolding in a graveyard over the course of a single night, narrated by a dazzling chorus of voices, Lincoln in the Bardo is a literary experience unlike any other, for no one but Saunders could conceive it.
February 1862. The Civil War is less than one year old. The fighting has begun in earnest, and the nation has begun to realize it is in for a long, bloody struggle. Meanwhile, President Lincoln's beloved 11-year-old son, Willie, lies upstairs in the White House, gravely ill. In a matter of days, despite predictions of a recovery, Willie dies and is laid to rest in a Georgetown cemetery. "My poor boy, he was too good for this earth," the president says at the time. God has called him home. Newspapers report that a grief-stricken Lincoln returned to the crypt several times alone to hold his boy's body.
From that seed of historical truth, George Saunders spins an unforgettable story of familial love and loss that breaks free of its realistic historical framework into a thrilling supernatural realm both hilarious and terrifying. Willie Lincoln finds himself in a strange purgatory where ghosts mingle, gripe, commiserate, quarrel and enact bizarre acts of penance. Within this transitional state called, in the Tibetan tradition, the bardo, a monumental struggle erupts over young Willie's soul.
The 166-person full cast features award-winning actors and musicians, as well as a number of Saunders' family, friends, and members of his publishing team, including, in order of their appearance:
Nick Offerman as HANS VOLLMAN
David Sedaris as ROGER BEVINS III
Carrie Brownstein as ISABELLE PERKINS
George Saunders as THE REVEREND EVERLY THOMAS
Miranda July as MRS. ELIZABETH CRAWFORD
Lena Dunham as ELISE TRAYNOR
Ben Stiller as JACK MANDERS vJulianne Moore as JANE ELLIS
Susan Sarandon as MRS. ABIGAIL BLASS
Bradley Whitford as LT. CECIL STONE
Bill Hader as EDDIE BARON
Megan Mullally as BETSY BARON
Rainn Wilson as PERCIVAL “DASH” COLLIER
Jeff Tweedy as CAPTAIN WILLIAM PRINCE
Kat Dennings as MISS TAMARA DOOLITTLE
Jeffrey Tambor as PROFESSOR EDMUND BLOOMER
Mike O’Brien as LAWRENCE T. DECROIX
Keegan-Michael Key as ELSON FARWELL
Don Cheadle as THOMAS HAVENS
and Patrick Wilson as STANLEY “PERFESSER” LIPPERT
with Kirby Heyborne as WILLIE LINCOLN,
Mary Karr as MRS. ROSE MILLAND,
and Cassandra Campbell as Your Narrator.
What listeners say about Lincoln in the Bardo
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jezabel N
- 15-11-2017
Fascinating and beautifully told
A wonderful story told in the most interesting way. Needed to concentrate whilst listening, but so worth it!
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sally-Ann Andrew
- 30-09-2019
Incredible
I tried to read this when it came out but I struggled with the format. This is a very unusual book in a number of ways. I don't do well with a lot of competing voices or an overabundance of dialogue on paper, so this was always going to be a tough one for me. I did however really, really want to read this. I thought the concept sounded fascinating, if only I could get past my pesky aversion to the style. So along comes Audible with the most wonderful 'production' of this amazing book. Having all those competing voices separated and acted out - especially by such a great cast - really helped me to engage with this story. This really is a staggeringly good book, it is endlessly fascinating, engrossing, hilarious and sad. It is completely brilliant and unique and deserving of all the praise it has received.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kyle Orton
- 04-03-2021
Brilliant
A stunning production of one of the most gorgeous books I have ever read. Stunning.
One aside, having read the book, the audiobook is easy to follow, but I could imagine if you came to the audiobook without that prior knowledge of the structure, it would be difficult to follow. That doesn't mean it isn't worth it though.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Nicole
- 07-04-2017
Simply stunning!
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes, and have already on numerous occasions.
Which scene did you most enjoy?
Lincoln first visit to his son in his crypt is an incredibly powerful piece of writing. My heart was in my throat listening to the description of their bodies and soul becoming one.
Any additional comments?
This is an absolutely amazing storytelling experience. The story itself, the voices, the restrained sound effects. I was moved beyond belief. Extraordinary.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- David P.
- 05-04-2022
Wonderful reading of an extraordinary novel
This reading sounds and feels like attending a very heartfelt and much loved production of a favorite show. I was transported. It is beautifully executed and a delight to experience.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Kerry
- 26-05-2022
Worth the wait
It took a while for me to understand where all the voices were coming from and how they related to the story. I did thoroughly enjoy the audio to hear the voices of the different actors involved, but I will purchase a hard copy now too, as I think this will more clearly define when a character is speaking, and when something is being read from a newspaper article...
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Raymond
- 18-08-2020
not bad but don't rush to listen
book does not translate to audio well, can be hard to follow at times but is easy to get through otherwise
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 11-09-2017
Incredibly written, thought-provoking story.
i was gripped by this story - funny, heart-warming and interesting. highly recommend to anyone!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Jesse Daughtry
- 29-12-2018
A Truly Human Story
A beautiful rendition of a unique book. Beautifully read to make you laugh, cry and rest in thought upon the characters and thoughts presented. If you struggle with the reference chapters, persevere! They are necessary.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Louise
- 10-06-2019
Incredible
I’ve never read a book like this positively brilliant. I only listen to narrators with British accents as I find them easier on the ear but WOW what a cast
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