A moving journey through the shadows of queer suicide and a tribute to lives marked by struggle and beauty.
The Lamentations explores the struggles and resilience within the queer community, offering a unique blend of historical analysis and emotional tribute to those affected. Author Patrick Anderson examines the phenomenon of queer suicide across various art forms such as film, theatre, and literature, tracing its evolution from the twentieth century to today.
Anderson brings to light the personal stories of individuals in the queer community who have ended their lives, compiling narratives from sources like newspaper articles, obituaries, and case studies. The book confronts the harsh realities of loneliness, shame, and oppression faced by many LGBTQ+ individuals, providing a poignant reflection on the societal challenges they face.
The Lamentations is more than a meditation on death; it's a narrative of survival, mourning, and healing. Sharing personal accounts, including the losses of loved ones and friends, Anderson highlights the importance of memory and storytelling in celebrating the vibrancy of queer life amidst the sorrow of loss.
Accessible to a broad readership, the book transcends academic boundaries to address themes of love, loss, and the human spirit. It's a compelling read for anyone interested in queer studies or anyone seeking to understand human experience through the lens of loss and legacy.
Prologue | 1
I. Introitus | 13
i. Office of the dead (Officium defunctorum) | 14
ii. All flesh (Omnis caro) | 19
iii. And he shall be like a tree (Et erit tamquam lignum) | 26
II. Dies Irae | 31
III. Kyrie Eleison | 51
i. Sorrowful is my soul (Tristis est anima mea) | 52
ii. What am I, miserable, then to say? (Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?) | 58
iii. My soul is weary with my life (Taedet animam meam vitae meae) | 70
IV. Lacrimosa | 75
V. Offertorium | 93
i. Through the tombs (Per sepulcra) | 94
ii. Seeking me, you sat down wearily (Quaerens me sedisti lassus) | 96
iii. Let not the abyss swallow them, lest they fall into obscurity
(Ne absorbeat eas tartarus, ne cadant in obscurum) | 101
VI. Sanctus | 108
i. I kneel with submissive heart (Oro supplex et acclinis) | 109
ii. Great trembling there will be (Quantus tremor est futurus) | 111
iii. Hail, true body (Ave verum corpus) | 128
VII. Benedictus | 132
i. Death has struck (Mors stupebit) | 133
ii. May the martyrs greet you at your arrival (Adventu suscipiant te martyres) | 142
VIII. Agnus Dei | 155
IX. Libera Me | 174
i. A heart reduced to ashes (Cor contritum quasi cinis) | 175
ii. When from the dust shall rise (Qua resurget ex favilla) | 183
iii. That which is hidden will appear (Quidquid latet apparebit) | 196
X. In Paradisum | 199
i. Eternal light (Lux aeterna) | 200
ii. Perpetual light (Lux perpetua) | 207
Coda | 217
Acknowledgments | 225
Notes | 229
Bibliography | 243
Index | 255
Patrick Anderson is professor in the Departments of Communication, Ethnic Studies, and Critical Gender Studies at the University of California, San Diego, and a 2023 Guggenheim Fellow. His previous books include Violence Performed: Local Roots and Global Routes of Conflict (Pal- grave, 2009), So Much Wasted: Hunger, Performance, and the Morbidity of Resistance (Duke, 2010), and Autobiography of a Disease (Routledge, 2017).
