The Great Shark Hunt: Strange Tales from a Strange Time

by Hunter S. Thompson

Overview

The first volume in Hunter S. Thompson’s bestselling Gonzo Papers offers brilliant commentary and outrageous humor, in his signature style.

Originally published in 1979, the first volume of the bestselling “Gonzo Papers” is now back in print. The Great Shark Hunt is Dr. Hunter S. Thompson’s largest and, arguably, most important work, covering Nixon to napalm, Las Vegas to Watergate, Carter to cocaine. These essays offer brilliant commentary and outrageous humor, in signature Thompson style.

Ranging in date from the National Observer days to the era of Rolling Stone, The Great Shark Hunt offers myriad, highly charged entries, including the first Hunter S. Thompson piece to be dubbed “gonzo”—“The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved,” which appeared in Scanlan's Monthly in 1970. From this essay, a new journalistic movement sprang which would change the shape of American letters. Thompson's razor-sharp insight and crystal clarity capture the crazy, hypocritical, degenerate, and redeeming aspects of the explosive and colorful ‘60s and ‘70s.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780743250450
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster
Publication date:	11/06/2003
Series:	Gonzo Papers Series , #1
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	624
Sales rank:	176,422
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.38(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Hunter S. Thompson was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. His books include Hell’s Angels, Fear and Loathing at Rolling Stone, Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ‘72, The Rum Diary, and Better than Sex. He died in February 2005.

Date of Birth:

July 18, 1937

Date of Death:

February 20, 2005

Place of Birth:

Louisville, Kentucky

Place of Death:

Woody Creek, Colorado

Education:

U.S. Air Force, honorably discharged in 1957

Editorial Reviews

The Washington Post He amuses; he frightens; he flirts with doom. His achievement is substantial.

From the Publisher

… there are some sections of The Great Shark Hunt, reprinted from such unlikely periodicals as The Reporter, The National Observer and The New York Times magazine, that are surprisingly straight, ungeeky and often quite moving. We are reminded that Dr. Thompson, who considers himself an outlaw, was from the beginning attracted to those who were outside the protection of the law or who were oppressed by that law … He is also, as if this needs to be said, hilarious
— The New York Times

John Leonard