Breach

Breach is a poetry collection by Lisa Samuels that explores the pandemic's impact on relationships, language, and the body. It is a reflection on the solitude of screen heritage, confinement, and fear, and a meditation on the material of contagion. The book pieces together the body that the Spinoza epigraph suggests "constitutes the formal being of the human mind," and considers the relations among mind, body, and human, terms whose foundations have been unsettled by the pandemic. Samuels works with experimental writing, sound and visual art, and relational theory in transnational life.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 80 pages
Publication date: 05 November 2021
Publisher: UEA Publishing Project

Breach, a powerful poetry collection by Lisa Samuels, serves as a poignant portrayal of the lockdown experience. The book begins with the deceased, specifically Li Wenliang, who was the first to raise the alarm about COVID-19. From there, it delves into a myriad of emotions, including defiance, hunger, and political turmoil, all woven through the lens of the pandemic as an ordinary part of life. The forced changes in relationships that we have all endured have distorted the lines, resembling the threat of empty grocery shelves, the scarcity of technological resources, and the emergence of wild-type host societies. Amidst this chaos, a mask serves as a constant reminder of the physical distance between us and the fragile growth that surrounds us.

Breach is a song of lockdown, offering a reflection on its tragedies, absurdities, linguistic hilarities, and nightmarish lexical distortions. It arrives at a perfect moment for introspection, as we continue to adapt our bodies, lives, and breaths to the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic. The poem explores the intricate relationship between the inside and the outside, challenging the boundaries between the personal and the political. It delves into the metaphysics of materialism, questioning the power of the body, the nature of confinement, and the fear that permeates our lives.

Furthermore, Breach serves as a vaccine against the solitude of screen heritage, confinement, and fear. It offers a meditative exploration of the materiality of contagion, unraveling the intricate web of transnational pathogens that knot into monuments at the breach of biopolitical capitalism. Samuels' poetic language is precise and haunting, as she employs helicoid strands of words that hinge and unhinge from the order of grammar. Through this unique style, she exposes the warp and weft of our different transnational pathogens, from the everyday rhythms of breath as windows to the felt rend(er)ing of our data flows, our "crypt toes."

Written in the midst of the pandemic that shattered many of us, Breach pieces together the body that Spinoza suggests constitutes the formal being of the human mind. Lines and words cohabit, fragment, and trail down the page, creating new meanings and associations as the book considers the complexities of the lockdown experience. The poetry collection invites readers to reflect on the profound changes that have occurred in our lives and the world around us, offering a sense of hope and resilience in the face of adversity.

In conclusion, Breach is a remarkable poetry collection that captures the essence of the lockdown experience. Through its poignant portrayal of tragedy, absurdity, linguistic humor, and nightmarish distortions, the book offers a reflection on the personal and political implications of the pandemic. It serves as a vaccine against the solitude of screen heritage, confinement, and fear, offering a meditative exploration of the materiality of contagion. Lisa Samuels' poetic language is precise and haunting, creating a unique and powerful experience for readers. Breach is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand and navigate the challenges of this unprecedented time.

Weight: 108g
Dimension: 131 x 239 x 10 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781913861322