***Like A Rolling Stone-The Hunter Thompson Papers

 

Book Review

From The Pen Of Frank Jackman

Fear and Loathing at Rolling Stone, introduction by Jann Wenner, Hunter S. Thompson, 2013

Sometimes it is just nice to be able to grab an author’s work, especially an author whose stock and trade was essentially working as a free- lance journalist, in one place. That is the idea behind this collection of all of the late Hunter S. Thompson’s (Doctor Gonzo’s) work for Rolling Stone magazine which launched him to some fame in the counter-cultural world in the early 1970s and later. Although the bulk of the work was done in that 1970s period occasional articles pop up almost until his death. An added feature is that Jann Wenner, the editor/owner of the magazine and Hunter’s ally/nemesis, introduces the book and each individual piece to give a little back-ground history of what did (or did not) happen with each article.

Hunter Thompson first became widely known as a crackerjack journalist when he “rode” and wrote about Oakland’s Hell’s Angels and set a new path for a proper way to write journalistic articles. No more so-called objective on the one hand, on the other stuff but considered reportage with the writer in the middle of the drama. Not everybody liked it (or likes it) but it got the attention of whole generation of kids (the now fading, greying generation of ’68) excited about more than drugs, sex and rock and roll (although that too).

Here you have articles ranging from Thompson’s 1970s Freak Power alternative political campaigns in the Rockies, the tense happenings in the East Los Angeles barrios, the skewering (there is no other word for it) of one Richard M. Nixon, one time President of the United States and common thief, a solid tribute to the old war-horse and ally Oscar Acosta (the Brown Buffalo), the Pulitzer Palm Beach divorce case and a quick swing through the hardships of the polo set to name a few. All done with factual accuracy and blazing wit (and occasional head full of dope, booze, cigarette smoke, and who knows what else).      

Many of these articles (although in some cases here heavily-edited) have appeared in previous volumes by Thompson, notably The Great Shark Hunt, but it is nice to have them all in one place to once again ponder over and get a few private chuckles from. Yeah, buy the ticket, take the ride, Thanks Hunter, wherever you are.