George Saunders, winner of the 2017 Man Booker Prize.

The American author George Saunders is this year’s winner of The Man Booker Prize, the most prestigious literary award in English-language literature, for his novel *Lincoln in the Bardo*.The book was published in Greek by Ikaros Publications on 2 October, translated by Giorgos-Ikaros Babasakis.Lincoln in the Bardo is the first novel by the internationally acclaimed short-story writer, and recounts US President Abraham Lincoln’s visit to the cemetery where his eleven-year-old son, Willie, was buried. That evening, Abraham Lincoln arrives alone at the cemetery, wishing to spend time with his son’s lifeless body. During the night, the ghosts of those who have recently passed away and those who have been dead for some time coexist; a monumental battle takes place for the soul of little Willie.Using this historical event as a catalyst, George Saunders tells an unforgettable, kaleidoscopic story of family love, loss, and the forces of good and evil.The award ceremony took place at Guildhall in London yesterday, Tuesday 17 October 2017. Lola Young, chair of the judging panel, said, among other things: ‘The form and style of this utterly original novel reveal a witty and deeply moving narrative. The story of the haunted souls in the afterlife of Abraham Lincoln’s young son creates, in a paradoxical way, a vivid memory of the characters inhabiting the other world. ‘Lethith and Lincoln’ has its roots in history, plays with it, and explores the meaning and experience of empathy.” George Saunders has written seven books, including the short story collections *Tenth of December* and *Pastoralia*. He has been a fellow of the Lannan Foundation, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Guggenheim Foundation. In 2006, he was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship. In 2013, he was awarded the PEN/Malamud Short Story Award and was included in The Times’ list of the 100 most influential people in the world. He teaches on the Creative Writing Programme at Syracuse University.Ikaros Publications has also released his books *The Tenth of December* (2015) and *With My Best Wishes: Reflections on Goodness* (2015), translated by G. I. Babasakis.