Hunter S. Thompson (1937-2005) is nearly synonymous with Gonzo journalism, “fear and loathing,” and, as Denevi reminds us, the fight against authoritarianism in America. Thompson began as a fairly conventional journalist but was galvanized by the rise of Nixon, whom he viewed as a potential dictator, to take a more decisive stand. This resulted in classic books such as Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ’72, but it also took a toll on Thompson’s health. For a decade, he pushed himself to meet deadlines and to alert voters to the dangers Nixon and his ilk posed, living a frenetic, drug-fueled life. In this revelatory and timely reconsideration, Denevi, author of Hyper and the nonfiction editor of Literary Hub, shows us how high the stakes were for this cultural icon.
