Thompson, Hunter Stockton

Thompson, Hunter Stockton
▪ 2006
 American journalist and author (b. July 18, 1937, Louisville, Ky.—d. Feb. 20, 2005, Woody Creek, Colo.), blurred the line between reporting and storytelling with a signature brand of highly subjective writing that he dubbed gonzo journalism. Despite the fact that an armed robbery conviction prevented him from graduating from high school, Thompson never hesitated to use the title “doctor,” in reference to a divinity degree that he purchased from a mail-order church. He began his journalism career as sports editor for a base newspaper while in the air force. Although his superior officers recognized his talent as a writer, they also saw that his rebellious streak was rubbing off on his readers, and he was honourably discharged. A series of freelance assignments followed, with Thompson spending a number of years in the Caribbean and South America. On his return to the U.S., he took an assignment that would result in the publication of his first book, Hell's Angels (1967). A 1970 article for Scanlan's magazine was intended to be a fairly straightforward treatment of a horse race. Instead, Thompson submitted “The Kentucky Derby Is Decadent and Depraved,” a 7,000-word opus that signaled the birth of gonzo journalism. Two years later he followed with his best-known work, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream (1972)—a psychedelic travel diary set against the backdrop of a motorcycle race in the Nevada desert. Thompson's later works included Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72 (1973), The Great Shark Hunt (1979), The Rum Diaries (his sole novel, written in 1959 and published in 1998), and Kingdom of Fear (2003).

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Hunter Stockton Thompson — Hunter S. Thompson Hunter Stockton Thompson (* 18. Juli 1937 in Louisville, Kentucky; † 20. Februar 2005 in Woody Creek bei Aspen, Colorado) war ein US amerikanischer Schriftsteller und Reportage …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Hunter Stockton Thompson — Hunter S. Thompson Pour les articles homonymes, voir Thompson. Hunter S. Thompson …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Thompson, Hunter S. — ▪ American journalist in full  Hunter Stockton Thompson  born July 18, 1937, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. died February 20, 2005, Woody Creek, Colorado  American journalist and author, who created the genre known as gonzo journalism, a highly… …   Universalium

  • Hunter S. Thompson — at the Miami Book Fair International of 1988 Born Hunter Stockton Thompson July 18, 1937(1937 07 18) Louisville, Kentucky …   Wikipedia

  • Hunter Thompson — Hunter S. Thompson Hunter Stockton Thompson (* 18. Juli 1937 in Louisville, Kentucky; † 20. Februar 2005 in Woody Creek bei Aspen, Colorado) war ein US amerikanischer Schriftsteller und Reportage …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Stockton — /stok teuhn/, n. 1. Frank R. (Francis Richard Stockton), 1834 1902, U.S. novelist and short story writer. 2. a city in central California, on the San Joaquin River. 149,779. * * * I City (pop., 2000: 243,771), central California, U.S. Located on… …   Universalium

  • Thompson — /tomp seuhn, tom /, n. 1. Benjamin, Count Rumford, 1753 1814, English physicist and diplomat, born in the U.S. 2. Dorothy, 1894 1961, U.S. journalist. 3. Francis, 1859 1907, English poet. 4. J(ames) Walter, 1847 1928, U.S. advertising executive.… …   Universalium

  • hunter — hunterlike, adj. /hun teuhr/, n. 1. a person who hunts game or other wild animals for food or in sport. 2. a person who searches for or seeks something: a fortune hunter. 3. a horse specially trained for quietness, stamina, and jumping ability in …   Universalium

  • Hunter — /hun teuhr/, n. 1. John, 1728 93, Scottish surgeon, physiologist, and biologist. 2. Robert Mercer Taliaferro /merr seuhr tol euh veuhr/, 1809 87, U.S. political leader: Speaker of the House 1839 41. 3. a male given name. * * * (as used in… …   Universalium

  • Hunter Thompson — Hunter S. Thompson Pour les articles homonymes, voir Thompson. Hunter S. Thompson …   Wikipédia en Français

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