How novelist George Saunders thinks about free will

The novel is set in 1862 during the American Civil War and revolves around the death of Willie Lincoln, the 11-year-old son of President Abraham Lincoln. After Willie's death from typhoid fever, his spirit finds itself in a limbo known as the bardo, a concept borrowed from Tibetan Buddhism. Here, he encounters a diverse group of ghosts who are also trapped between the world of the living and the afterlife. The story delves into themes of grief, both personal and national, as Lincoln grapples with the loss of his son amidst the broader context of the Civil War. The novel is characterized by its unique narrative style, which includes a multitude of voices and historical quotes, and its exploration of the human experience of suffering and love.

The Death of Ivan Ilyich is a novella by Leo Tolstoy, published in 1886. It tells the story of Ivan Ilyich, a judge who, after a terminal illness, undergoes a profound transformation as he confronts the meaninglessness of his life. Through his suffering, Ivan comes to realize the artificiality of his existence and seeks a more authentic connection with others. The novella explores themes of mortality, morality, and the search for true meaning in life.