Fear and Loathing On the Campaign Trail '72

American journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson was best known for pioneering Gonzo journalism, a style of reporting in which the writer becomes a central figure in the narrative. Born in Louisville, Kentucky, Thompson gained early recognition for his book Hell’s Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (1967), an immersive, first-person account of life with the notorious motorcycle club. His most famous work is Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1971), a psychedelic, satirical journey into the 1960s counterculture movement. The hallmarks of Thompson’s writing—his anti-establishment views, wit, and deep distrust of authority—all emerge in Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ’72. Thompson presents his foray into political journalism as an extension of his earlier works, venturing into subcultures and communities in search of what captivates and controls people. He emerges with the sense that political journalism is as addictive as any drug, providing a kind of thrill that is seemingly unmatched anywhere else. As Thompson explains to his editor at the end of the book, his experiences of being close to power intrigue him, and he can imagine returning to the political sphere at the time of the next election.