Quarantine

by Brian Henry

Poetry. QUARANTINE is a book-length poem narrated by a man dying of the bubonic plague. Set outside London during the summer of 1665, the poem explores issues of sexuality and subjectivity while narrating a life within death. The narrative accumulates via accretion and contradiction, complicating the narrator's attempts to truthfully describe his life, and therefore complicating the narrative itself. QUARANTINE is the fourth book by Henry and won the 2003 Alice Fay di Castagnola Award from the Poetry Society of America. His previous titles include AMERICAN INCIDENT and GRAFT. Henry teaches at the University of Richmond.

Genres: Poetry

80 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Brian]

I just learned that Peter Strange Yumi made a short film based on the book:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Altw4V...

[Konstantin R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

[rating = A]
One of my: Best Books of the Year (for 2025)

This was such a fantastic read. I loved the idea of the story first appearing to be about a hetero relationship then turning around with a look at queer love. The poems (most) worked on a singular level but also in groups and as a collection as a whole. Certain lines made my heart ache and made me think about my own experiences, which is what great literature does. The ending half, which sort of reworks the "Quarantine" poems, did not shine as bright, but they rearranged thoughts and phrases that I had already read in new and considered ways. The book just blew me away; it was what I needed to read at the time!

[Cary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a really great performance. I didn't give it the chance it deserves until probably the tenth read-thru--which is telling of both its brevity and nuance. This'll be one I keep around for affirmation.