'Selby's place is in the front rank of American novelists...to understand his work is to understand the anguish of America.' New York Times

Hubert Selby, Jr. was born in Brooklyn in 1928. His childhood nickname 'Cubby' stuck with him throughout his life. At the age of 15, he dropped out of school and went to sea with the merchant marines. While at sea he was diagnosed with lung disease. With no other way to make a living, he decided to try writing: "I knew the alphabet. Maybe I could be a writer."

In 1964 he completed his first book, Last Exit to Brooklyn, which has since become a cult classic. In 1966, it was the subject of an obscenity trial in the UK.

His other books include The Room, The Demon, Requiem for a Dream, Song of the Silent Snow, The Willow Tree and Waiting Period, all available from Marion Boyars.

Two of his books have been made into successful feature films. In 1989, director Uli Edel made Last Exit to Brooklyn, starring Jennifer Jason Leigh, Burt Young and Jerry Orbach. Hubert Selby, Jr. had a cameo appearance in the film as a taxi driver

More recently, in 2000, Requiem for a Dream starred Jared Leto and Ellen Burstyn and was directed by Darren Aronofsky.

'Selby...has pinned down the captive mind, opened it up and mapped its darkest and most vicious pathways' The Guardian

Hubert Selby Jr died in 2004.

Bibliography:

Last Exit to Brooklyn
The Room
The Demon
Requiem for a Dream
Song of the Silent Snow
The Willow Tree
Waiting Period