Hubert Selby

Hubert Selby Jr. was an American writer known for his gritty, urban novels that depict the harsh realities of life in the inner city. He is best known for his first novel, 'Last Exit to Brooklyn', which portrayed the lives of marginalized individuals in Brooklyn and was highly controversial at the time of its publication in 1964 due to its explicit content. Selby's work often explored themes of addiction, violence, and existential despair. His novel 'Requiem for a Dream', which delves into the lives of drug addicts, was adapted into a critically acclaimed film directed by Darren Aronofsky in 2000.

Books

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. Requiem for a Dream

    "Requiem for a Dream" is a harrowing tale that explores the depths of addiction and its devastating consequences. The narrative follows the lives of four characters, each battling their own form of substance abuse. The main character, a woman in her old age, becomes addicted to diet pills in her quest to lose weight and appear on a television game show, while her son, his girlfriend, and his best friend are all caught up in heroin addiction. As their dependencies deepen, their lives spiral out of control, leading to tragic endings. The book serves as a stark and brutal depiction of drug addiction and its destructive effects on individuals and their relationships.

  2. 2. The Demon

    The book in question is a harrowing exploration of the human psyche, delving into the life of a seemingly successful and respectable man whose inner demons drive him into a spiral of obsession and violence. Despite his outward appearance of normalcy, he is tormented by compulsions that he cannot control, leading him down a dark path that threatens to destroy both himself and those around him. The narrative is a stark and disturbing portrayal of the struggle between societal expectations and the darker aspects of human nature.

  3. 3. Last Exit to Brooklyn

    This novel is a raw and gritty depiction of life in the slums of Brooklyn in the 1950s. It is a collection of interconnected stories that delve into the lives of various characters, including drug addicts, prostitutes, factory workers, and union members. The narrative explores themes such as addiction, violence, homosexuality, and poverty, with a stark, unflinching realism that was controversial at the time of its publication. The book is noted for its stream-of-consciousness style and lack of traditional punctuation.