The Man with Night Sweats: Poems

by Thom Gunn, Colm Tóibín (Introduction)

106 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication September 1, 2026

About the author

Thom Gunn (29 August 1929 – 25 April 2004), born Thomson William Gunn, was an Anglo-American poet who was praised for his early verses in England, where he was associated with The Movement, and his later poetry in America, even after moving toward a looser, free-verse style. After relocating from England to San Francisco, Gunn wrote about gay-related topics—particularly in his most famous work, The Man With Night Sweats in 1992—as well as drug use, sex, and his bohemian lifestyle. He won major literary awards.

Reviews

[Gaby | read.onrepeat]

📚 Pre-read 📚
I found it mighty appropriate to read a book about the 80s AIDS crisis during Pride month.
I also know I will be a wrecked mess after I finish it.

*Thom Gunn wrote this collection of poems as elegy for the friends he lost to AIDS. He was an openly gay man who stayed HIV negative, while his friends didn’t.

**This collection was originally published in 1992, but it will be the first time this edition will be available in digital format.

NetGalley ARC

[Lorena Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am now a convert to the wonder of unabashed rhyme. This book had me in tears and compelled me to spend more time outside simply observing the world around me. Thom Gunn writes with such finesse, his rhyme and imagery appear absolutely effortless as they elevate the reader into a more intimate space. I would highly recommend every reader spend a little extra time reading "An Invitation". It was perhaps my favorite along with the titular poem.

Thank you to NetGalley and FSG Poetry for the ARC of this book.