Rare Book of the Day – Requiem for a Dream, Hubert Selby Jr. First Edition.

Hubert Selby Jr was an American writer, born in 1928, whose work emphasized the harsh underworld seldom seen in literature before him. His first book, Last Exit to Brooklyn, with its taboo subject matter (think drug use, street violence, gang rape, homosexuality, transvestism and domestic violence) was prosecuted for obscenity in Great Britain and banned in Italy. Fortunately, his work was defended by leading writers and he's now seen as highly influential to more than a generation of authors.

Requiem for a Dream is his fourth novel, published in 1978, and is a devastating look at New York City's heroin scene in the 1970s. Selby also co-wrote the screenplay with Darren Aronofsky for his 2000 film of the same name, starring Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, and Marlon Wayans. If you feel like getting really depressed, the film is incredible. This is the first edition, first printing:

Selby:

Trailer for Aronofsky's incredible film adaptation:

More info here:
http://www.rarebooksleuth.com/featured/requiem-for-a-dream-hubert-selby-jr-first-edition-first-printing