Hubert Selby Jr. was an American writer born on July 23, 1928, in Brooklyn, New York. He is renowned for his novels Last Exit to Brooklyn (1964) and Requiem for a Dream (1978), both of which delve into the worlds of the New York area. These novels were adapted into films, featuring Selby himself.

His debut novel was legally challenged for obscenity in the UK and banned in Italy, inciting defenses from eminent authors like Anthony Burgess. Selby left a lasting impact on literature, influencing generations of writers. For over 20 years, he imparted his expertise in creative writing at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, where he resided permanently after 1983.

In his early years, Selby served as a merchant marine and was later afflicted with a severe lung disease. Despite predictions of his imminent death, he chose to pursue life and writing, famously noting that "I knew the alphabet. Maybe I could be a writer." This realization propelled him into the literary world, shaping his legacy.