'The Demon' by Hubert Selby Jr. delves into the harrowing journey of the protagonist, Harry White, as he battles with his inner demons, symbolized by his escalating mental illness. The narrative explores Harry's descent into increasingly risky and depraved behavior, from compulsive sex to murder, portraying his futile attempts to satisfy his insatiable desires. Selby's writing style mirrors Harry's deteriorating mental state, with stream-of-consciousness passages that reflect the protagonist's erratic mindset and the darkness consuming him. Despite some critics finding the writing style unconventional, it is deemed consistent with the book's context, adding depth to the portrayal of Harry's internal struggles.
The Demon is a visceral and gripping exploration of human darkness and inner turmoil, showcasing Selby's ability to paint a hauntingly realistic picture of psychological torment. Through Harry's journey, the novel delves into themes of obsession, self-destruction, and the inability to escape one's own demons, leaving readers unsettled yet captivated by the raw intensity of the narrative.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
The book covers intense themes including mental illness, addiction, violence, and existential dread, which may be triggering for some readers.
From The Publisher:
Harry White is the man other men want to be: admired by his peers, talented, rich, and desired by countless women. His steady rise to a position of unprecedented influence in a New York investment firm seems inevitable to those who know him, and on the way he acquires a beautiful wife and children. But with every achievement the desire to destroy what is his grows stronger. A demon within drives him to sexual excess, petty crime and eventually murder.
The Demon explores the dark side of a man's ambitions with unflinching determination. Harry White's story is a gripping twentieth-century tragedy.
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About the Author:
Hubert Selby, Jr. was born in Brooklyn in 1928. 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. In 2000, Requiem for a Dream starred Jared Leto and Ellen Burstyn and was directed by Darren Aronofsky. Hubert Selby Jr died in Highland Park, Los Angeles, California in April 2004.
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