Henry Cronlund ’27 strings together metaphors with a free-flowing ease and thematic goal in mind.
Self-publishing his first book of fictional poetry, “Acute Psychotic Break,” was the laborious side of being an author that stressed him the most.
“Brutal. It is not recommended,” Henry said with a half sigh, half smile.
Once the text itself was ready – "Acute Psychotic Break" is one poem sprawled out over 84 pages – Henry found himself having to design a cover, typeset the pages, and other smaller tasks before delivering the final product to an Amazon warehouse in paperback and eBook formats.
"Acute Psychotic Break" is available for purchase at this link.
The back cover’s description reads as follows:
“A mind under pressure does not break quietly.
"Acute Psychotic Break" is a psychological descent into fractured perception, collapsing identity, and the fragile boundary between reality and delusion.
Through stark imagery and unfiltered introspection, this book explores what happens when the mind can no longer trust itself – and the unsettling clarity that sometimes follows.
Controlled. Intimate. Uncompromising.”
Henry describes himself as a curious person, with a tendency for putting his observations and thoughts into words. He is already planning a second book for this summer and says the response from family and friends has been overwhelmingly positive for "Acute Psychotic Break."
Henry is a junior from Raleigh whose positive impact on the school community can be seen in the fact that he has won three Student and Residential Life Awards in two years.