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George Saunders, Kathleen Collins

Mariella Frostrup talks to the American poet and essayist George Saunders about his long-awaited first novel Lincoln in the Bardo.

George Saunders' Lincoln In The Bardo is one of the most anticipated and acclaimed novels of this year, so far. He talks to Mariella Frostrup about creating his extraordinary bardo - a transitional space between life and death - where a chorus of spirits watch President Abraham Lincoln grieve for his young son.

Also on the programme, a glimpse into a publisher's archive;, the frank, funny, fearless short stories of Kathleen Collins and why authors can never chose a favourite novel.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Thu 23 Mar 2017 15:30
BBC Radio 4

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Chapters

  • George Saunders

    Duration: 08:23

  • Dawn Sinclair on the Harper Collins Archive

    Duration: 06:18

  • Nina Lorez Collins

    Duration: 08:09

  • Rick Gekoski

    Duration: 04:26

Read the first chapter of Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders: Chapter One. 

Credits

Presenter Mariella Frostrup
Interviewed Guest George Saunders

Broadcasts

  • Sun 19 Mar 2017 16:00
    BBC Radio 4
  • Thu 23 Mar 2017 15:30
    BBC Radio 4

This Week's Book List

This Week's Book List

Read along with us - a list of books discussed in each programme