Hubert Selby Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hubert Selby Jr.
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| Born | July 23, 1928 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | (aged 75) Highland Park, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Literary movement | Modernism, Beat Generation |
| Notable works | Last Exit to Brooklyn, The Room, Requiem for a Dream |
Hubert "Cubby" Selby Jr. (born July 23, 1928 – died April 26, 2004) was an American writer. He was known for his unique writing style. He wrote about life in New York City.
Two of his most famous books are Last Exit to Brooklyn (1964) and Requiem for a Dream (1978). Both of these novels were made into movies. Hubert Selby Jr. even appeared in small roles in both films. He taught writing for over 20 years at the University of Southern California.
Contents
About Hubert Selby Jr.
Early Life and School
Hubert Selby Jr. was born in 1928 in Brooklyn, New York City. His parents were Adalin and Hubert Selby Sr. His father was a sailor and used to work in coal mines. Hubert grew up in Bay Ridge. He went to public schools, including the tough Stuyvesant High School.
When he was 15, Hubert Selby Jr. left school. He started working at the city docks. Later, in 1947, he became a merchant seaman. This meant he worked on ships that carried goods.
Health Challenges and Becoming a Writer
While working on a ship, Hubert got very sick with tuberculosis. He had to leave the ship in Germany. He was sent back to the United States for treatment. For over three years, he was often in and out of the hospital. Doctors thought he might not live long because his lungs were so weak.
Because of his health, Hubert couldn't work a regular job. His childhood friend, Gilbert Sorrentino, who was a writer, told him to try writing. Hubert thought, "I know the alphabet. Maybe I could be a writer." He later shared that he realized he would die someday. He didn't want to regret his life. This thought made him want to do something important with his time.
His Unique Writing Style
Hubert Selby Jr. didn't have any formal writing training. He used a very direct and honest style. He wrote about the difficult parts of life he saw growing up in New York. He said he wrote "by ear," meaning he listened to how people spoke. He loved the "music of the speech in New York."
He didn't always follow normal grammar rules. For example, he used forward slashes (/) instead of apostrophes ('). This was because the slash key was closer on his typewriter. It helped him write faster without stopping his thoughts. He also often started new paragraphs on a new line without indenting them in the usual way.
First Stories and Books
Hubert started writing his first short story, "The Queen Is Dead," in 1958. He worked many different day jobs, like a secretary or a gas station attendant. But he wrote every night. It took him six years to finish and publish that story.
In 1961, another short story called "Tralala" was published. It appeared in several literary magazines. This story showed the rough side of life.
In 1964, Hubert Selby Jr. combined "Tralala" and "The Queen Is Dead" with four other stories. This became his first novel, Last Exit to Brooklyn. A famous publisher, Grove Press, published it. The book was called "a brutal book" by a critic. But many people, including the poet Allen Ginsberg, praised it. Ginsberg thought it would be read for a long time.
Life After His First Novel
In 1971, Hubert Selby Jr. published his second novel, The Room. This book was about a man in prison. Hubert said it was "the most disturbing book ever written."
He kept writing short stories and scripts for movies and TV shows. His work appeared in many magazines. In the 1980s, he met the musician Henry Rollins. Rollins was a big fan of Hubert's work. He helped Hubert reach more readers. Rollins also helped him record his spoken word performances and go on reading tours.
For the last 20 years of his life, Hubert Selby Jr. taught creative writing. He was a professor at the University of Southern California.
Two of his books were made into movies:
- Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989)
- Requiem for a Dream (2000)
Hubert Selby Jr. had small acting roles in both films. In Last Exit to Brooklyn, he played a taxi driver. In Requiem for a Dream, he was a prison guard.
His Final Years
Hubert Selby Jr. spent his last month in and out of the hospital. He passed away at his home in Highland Park, Los Angeles, on April 26, 2004. He died from a lung disease.
After his death, The New York Times newspaper published an article about his life. There are also documentaries about him. One was made in France in 1999. Another, called Hubert Selby Jr: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow, came out in 2005.
Hubert Selby Jr.'s Works
Books He Wrote
- Last Exit to Brooklyn (novel, 1964)
- The Room (novel, 1971)
- The Demon (novel, 1976)
- Requiem for a Dream (novel, 1978)
- Song of the Silent Snow (short stories, 1986)
- The Willow Tree (novel, 1998)
- Waiting Period (novel, 2002)
Spoken Word Recordings
- Our Fathers Who Aren't in Heaven – A collection of his readings (1990)
- Live in Europe 1989 – Live spoken word with Henry Rollins (1995)
- Blue Eyes and Exit Wounds – Spoken word with Nick Tosches (1998)
Movies He Worked On
- Jour et Nuit – Screenwriter (1986)
- Last Exit to Brooklyn – Writer and actor (1989)
- Scotch and Milk – Actor (1998)
- Requiem for a Dream – Screenwriter and actor (2000)
- Fear X – Screenwriter (2003)
Documentaries About Him
- Hubert Selby Jr.: 2 Ou 3 Choses... (A Couple of Things About Hubert Selby Jr.) by Ludovic Cantais (2000)
- Hubert Selby Jr: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow (2005)
Images for kids
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Hubert Selby Jr.
