Title: The Demon
Author: Hubert Selby Jr.
First published January 1, 1976
312 pages, Paperback
ISBN: 9780714525990 (ISBN10: 0714525995)
Rating: 3.89
Overview
Meet Harry White – a man consumed by a lustful obsession and an insatiable desire for sin and redemption. As Harry’s successful marriage and corporate job elevate his position in society, his appetite for crime intensifies, leading him down a treacherous path of fraud and murder.
In this gripping tale of morality and madness from the author of Last Exit to Brooklyn, Hubert Selby Jr. immerses readers in the vivid and complex world of Harry White. With a keen eye for detail and an unparalleled understanding of the human psyche, Selby Jr. takes us on a journey of self-discovery and redemption, exploring the inner workings of the human mind and the universal quest for meaning and purpose.
Through his characters’ struggles and triumphs, Selby Jr. offers a powerful message of empathy and understanding, reminding us of our shared humanity and the importance of compassion and forgiveness.
About the Author
Hubert Selby, Jr. was born and raised in Brooklyn, where he worked as a merchant marine before succumbing to lung disease. After being given up for dead by doctors, Selby decided to live and pursue a new career as a writer, drawing inspiration from the neighborhoods and people of his youth.
His first novel, “Last Exit to Brooklyn,” was published in 1964 and was widely praised by literary figures like Allen Ginsberg.
Despite the critical success of his second novel, “The Room,” Selby’s work was often overlooked in his native America while finding a devoted following in Europe. “Requiem for a Dream” and “The Demon” are considered by many to be his most disturbing works, and his novel “The Demon” features an epigraph that sums up the book’s themes of obsession and possession.
Throughout his life, Selby continued to write short stories, screenplays, and teleplays, often exploring the dark world of heroin addiction. He taught creative writing at the University of Southern California and counted rock singer Henry Rollins among his fans and collaborators.
Selby’s final years were marked by depression and illness, but he remained a loving family man until his death from lung disease in Los Angeles. He was survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.
Editoral Review
Hubert Selby Jr.’s novel The Demon is a visceral exploration of the depths of the human psyche. Published in 1976, the book is a classic of modern American literature, renowned for its graphic depictions of depravity and violence, as well as its unrelenting examination of human suffering.
The Demon tells the story of Harry White, an ex-con who is struggling to adjust to life outside of prison. Harry is haunted by the demons of his past and is consumed by violent urges that he cannot control.
As the novel progresses, Harry descends further and further into his own personal hell, unable to find redemption or peace. At its core, The Demon is a meditation on the nature of evil and the human capacity for destruction.
Selby Jr. paints a grim picture of the world, one in which violence and pain are endemic, where the forces of darkness seem to be winning the battle for the soul of humanity. Yet, despite the darkness of the novel’s themes, it is also a deeply compassionate work, one that shows great empathy for its characters, even as they engage in monstrous acts.
The novel’s prose is stark and unflinching, with Selby Jr. using a raw and abrasive style to convey the horror of his characters’ lives. The book is a challenging read, with scenes of extreme violence and graphic sexual content that may be disturbing to some readers.
However, the intensity of the writing is also what makes the novel so powerful, drawing the reader into the dark and twisted world of Harry White. Overall, The Demon is a masterful work of literature, one that is sure to leave a lasting impression on any reader.
The novel’s unflinching look at the darkest corners of the human psyche is not for the faint of heart, but for those willing to confront the brutal realities of the human condition, Selby Jr.’s book is an essential read. While not for everyone, The Demon is a classic of American literature, and a must-read for anyone interested in the darker side of the human experience.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars.
