Hubert Selby Jr.

Hubert Selby, Jr. (July 23, 1928 – April 26, 2004) was one of America's most acclaimed postwar writers. His work ranks as some of the most powerful literature written by an American author in the twentieth century.{{ref|nyt}} His best known work, Last Exit to Brooklyn (1964) is recognized today as a classic.

Dead End

In 1971, Selby published his second novel, The Room. The novel received the greatest reviews, and was considered to be another masterpiece. Selby himself described the book to be "the most disturbing book ever written", a book

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that he himself could not read again for decades after writing it.

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Selby continued to write short fiction, screenplays and teleplays at his apartment in West Hollywood. His work appeared in many journals, including Yugen, Black Mountain Review, Evergreen Review, Provincetown Review, Kulchur, New Directions Annual, Swank and Open City. For the last 20 years of his life, Selby taught creative writing as an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California. Selby often noted that the New York Times would not review his books when they were published, but he predicted that they'd print his obituary.

Related Topics:
Short fiction - Screenplay - Teleplay - West Hollywood - Journal - University of Southern California - New York Times - Obituary

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During the last years of his life, Selby suffered from depression, and fits of rage. The last month of his life, Selby spent in and out of the hospital. Selby died in Highland Park, Los Angeles, CA on April 26, 2004 of chronic obstructive pulmonary lung disease. Selby is survived by his wife of 35 years, Suzanne Selby (b. 1946); four children, Kyle Mack of New York; Claudia Selby of Kentucky; and Rachel Selby and William Selby, both of Southern California; and 11 grandchildren{{ref|children}}.

Related Topics:
Depression - Los Angeles - April 26 - 2004

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