Oak Forest HS Alum George Saunders Publishes First Full-Length Novel

Oak Forest High School Alum George Saunders is publishing his very first full-length novel, Lincoln in the Bardo. Saunders has published many books of short stories, one of which, The Tenth of December, was a National Book Award Finalist in 2013. His full-length novel, Lincoln in the Bardo, is set in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Georgetown in 1862, where Abraham Lincoln’s 11 year old son, Willie, was interred after dying of typhoid fever. Abraham Lincoln visits Willie at the cemetery to hold his body and mourn for him. This picture of grief is told via the voices of the surrounding dead in the cemetery.

The audio version holds a special tie to Oak Forest High School. Not only do various famous actors and authors read on it like Nick Offerman, David Sedaris, and George Saunders and his family, but retired Oak Forest High School teachers Joe and Cheryl Lindbloom read on it as well. Saunders credits the Lindblooms with helping him find his way as a writer and supporting him as he learned his craft.