Hunter S. Thompson Books

Pat left a comment on the questions and answers post…“Having never read any of Hunter Thompson’s books, I’d like to know why he’s revered as a great author. What sets him apart from other authors of his time period“?

Well Pat, Marty here, I think one of the things that sets him apart from other authors would have to be the fact that he created Gonzo Journalism. Although Hunter Thompson did not come up with the name “Gonzo” The man responsible for that was a chap by the name Bill Cardoso, who was an editor for the Boston Globe magazine. He referred to Thompson’s article Kentucky Derby in Scanlans magazine in 1970 as “Pure Gonzo Journalism” Although most will agree that Thompson’s first example of Gonzo Journalism was in his first book Hells Angels, written 4 years earlier in 1966 but it had started as an article titled “Losers and Outsiders” about the gang for the Nation, a periodical paper about culture and politics.

I guess a brief way to describe it would be to say that Gonzo Journalism is the art of reporting, where the journalist includes himself in the story, using sarcasm and exaggeration. Sometimes stretching the truth. Adopting a style over substance line could be another way to describe the Gonzo Journalists’ writing.

Other journalists who write, or have written in the Gonzo style include Tom Luffman or Alan Cabal. Although I’m not sure if they would appreciate this label.

So I think the main thing that sets him apart from any other author of the 60s, 70s, or even these days would be that he created Gonzo Journalism, he brought a freshness to writing and reporting. He wrote what he felt, thought and wanted with no consideration for what anyone else thought and the news papers, magazines etc bought it. Also the whole Hunter S. Thompson package, his personality, wit, temper, disregard for authority and abuse of drugs and alcohol played a part in his writing. [Although I don’t agree that one has to be a raging alcoholic and drug fiend to be a HST fan, I don’t drink or do drugs and enjoy his work more that any one else’s.]

His political commentating was second to none in my opinion, the Gonzo writing style while reporting politics was the most entertaining and informative I have ever seen.

Frank Mankowitz summed it up in his quote about Fear And Loathing Campaign Trail 72.

“It was the least factual and most accurate account of the 72 election”

I hope that was some help.

Marty.

Here are some thoughts from JR on Pat’s question.

One Thought on Gonzo Journalism. Hunter gives his readers an “in the moment” glimpse of whatever was happening while he wrote. He brings people into the story he created. Maybe not even intentionally, but that’s how it shakes out. He sat down and hit the type writer keys, many times under deadline pressure. And was able to capture what he himself had experienced, maybe some what blurry, distorted, out right embellished, possible under the influence of God only knows. But the words he wrote down let you peek in over his shoulder at the events he witnessed & recorded. He lived it, wrote it, twisted it, published it.

In the moment, in the flow, in the whirlwind, he wrote as he perceived events, as they were happening, accurate or not, twisted or not…Gonzo Journalism…