Song of the Silent Snow: Stories

Hubert Selby Jr. made an indelible mark on contemporary American literature with his masterful classic Last Exit to Brooklyn, a novel that brilliantly explored the lives of those at the lowest strata of urban society. But even before that novel altered the landscape of American fiction, Selby was honing his literary craft with short fiction that intensely illuminated the tragic human condition in a stark and unforgiving light.

 

The unforgettable voices in Song of the Silent Snow range from streetwise to poetic, telling urban fables that are wise, poignant, funny, and heartbreaking. The stories collected here represent Selby at his very best, whether he’s exploring a married commuter’s fantasy love for a stranger he sees every morning on the subway or wryly spinning the tale of a salesman whose life is being dictated by Chinese fortune cookies. In these pages, a homeless man’s most meaningful relationship is with his coat, much more important to him than any human interaction; a desperate father resorts to violent destruction to get his son’s attention; and a young man’s successful attempt to impress a girl on their first date comes back to haunt him. Through the remarkable stories collected in Song of the Silent Snow, Selby carries readers into a hard and uncaring world to reveal the humanity that dwells there, even in its darkest corners.

 

This ebook features an illustrated biography of Hubert Selby Jr. including rare photos from the author’s estate.