Requiem for a Dream

Published in 1978, Hubert Selby Jr.’s novel tells the tragic story of four individuals whose lives are shattered by various forms of addiction. With unsparing candor, the book portrays how substance abuse and obsession with illusory goals lead to personal degradation and the collapse of all hope. The work gained widespread acclaim following Darren Aronofsky’s 2000 film adaptation and is considered one of the most poignant literary explorations of the dark side of the “American Dream.”