SOURCE: "Examining the Disease: An Interview with Hubert Selby, Jr.," in The Literary Review, Fairleigh Dickenson University, Vol. 35, No. 2, Winter, 1992, pp. 288-302.

The following is an in-depth discussion between Vorda and Selby, concerning Selby's works—particularly Last Exit to Brooklyn—as well as his style and intent.

W. J. T. Mitchell on Selby's Technique:

Interestingly enough, people who live in New York tell me that the exit from the Gowanus expressway, of which Selby writes, is, indeed, the "last place" they would go to. It is no use to object that "this is not the Brooklyn I know," or even worse, "this is a Brooklyn that people should be silent about." The only appropriate question is, does Selby's Brooklyn work?

It does not work in all the details, a fact which separates Selby as a good writer from the first-raters. His ear for language is often quite inept...