The Room | First UK Edition
Language: English
Published by Calder & Boyars, London, 1972
- First Edition
- Hardcover
- Used





Seller: The Disappearing Codex, Brussels, BelgiumThe Disappearing Codex
AbeBooks seller since March 29, 2026
Condition: Used - Very good
£ 35.01
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Selby's second novel - following the cult classic 'Last Exit to Brooklyn' - is a visceral psychological journey into the mind of a man isolated in a remand cell, surrendering to obsession, rage, and fantasy as his grip on reality slips. Inspired by Selby’s groundbreaking stream‑of‑consciousness style and unflinching emotional intensity, The Room remains one of the author’s most haunting and unforgettable works. This edition holds significant appeal for collectors of 20th-century American literature, cult modern novels, and literary psychological fiction. It's a powerful addition to any serious collection and a standout example of Selby's visionary voice. Condition Notes: First UK edition, 1972. 288pp. Hardcover with original dust jacket. Book is in very good condition: clean, bright pages, firm binding, and no internal markings apart from a previous owner's inscription to the front endpaper. Light age toning only. The dust jacket is in very good condition, with minor edge wear and light rubbing; clean and well-preserved overall. A compelling collectible copy that balances readability, aesthetic appeal, and first-edition desirability.…
Seller Inventory # 123
- Title
- The Room | First UK Edition
- Author
- Selby, Hubert
- Publisher
- Calder & Boyars, London
- Publication year
- 1972
- Condition
- Very good
- Dust jacket
- Good
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 0714508888
- ISBN 13
- 9780714508887
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Item weight
- 310 grams
- Dimensions
- 135 millimeters width by 200 millimeters height by 30 millimeters depth
Secluded in his remand cell, a small-time criminal surrenders himself to sadistic fantasies of hatred and revenge. Selby's second novel is a claustrophobic descent into the tormented soul of a man trapped in a loveless society.
Selby's place is in the front rank of American novelists; to understand his work is to understand the anguish of America.New York Times Book Review
Born in Brooklyn New York, Hubert Selby Jr. achieved international recognition for Last Exit to Brooklyn. His other books include The Demon, The Willow Tree, and Song of the Silent Snowall available Marion Boyars.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review
A terrifying journey into the darkest corners of the psyche (Guardian)
Selby deploys street slang, common speech, argot and scatology to create a high poetic art...it seems to derive from the greatest American poetry--Whitman, Pound, Williams, and Olson (The Nation)
One must be grateful to Selby for his fatal vision and strong, original talent (Newsweek)
'Selby's place is in the front rank of American novelists ... to understand his work is to understand the anguish of America.' (New York Times Book Review)
It's absolutely horrific ... but just about the most powerful novel I've ever read (The Times)
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
The Disappearing Codex
Brussels, Belgium
AbeBooks seller since March 29, 2026
Shipping rates from Belgium to U.S.A.
| Item | 7 to 15 business days | 5 to 10 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 12.32 | £ 19.12 |
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Disappearing Codex offers a selection of thought-provoking works. Books in this collection have been the power to challenge, illuminate, and inspire. This collection is part of a personal library I am gradually dispersing as I prepare to emigrate in one year. Each copy carries a piece of literary and intellectual history. Browse with confidence, and join me in keeping these provocative works alive and in circulation. Once they're gone, they're gone - much like the name of this store suggests.
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The Disappearing Codex
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