Thompson, Hunter S.

The Great Shark Hunt: Strange Tales from a Strange Time

ISBN: 0671400460
New York, NY: Summit Books, 1979. First Edition. Hardcover. "All of Dr. Thompson's greatest work is here: The Kentucky Derby at which he introduced Ralph Steadman to American depravity; his pieces on the Super Bowl and on Jean-Claude Killy; "Freak Power in the Rockies," the account of his own run for sheriff of Aspen; his observations on some other politicians- Nixon in '68, McGovern in '72, Fear and Loathing at the Watergate, the Impeachment Hearings, Jimmy Carter and the Great Leap of Faith- and more, more- forty-six pieces in all, chosen by Dr. Thompson himself, most never before published in book form. Hunter Thompson is a legend in his own time. Read and discover why." (from back flap) The first collection of writings by Hunter S. Thompson (1937-2005), the great American exemplar of Gonzo Journalism & a one-man school of incendiary, dizzying & hilarious reportage-commentary. His wild, twisted, fearless self is always at the center of his incisive reports from behind the curtain of "The American Dream." This is only the fourth book-length work published during Thompson's then still-early career, following the now-classics that catapulted him to greater notoriety than many of his famous subjects: Hell's Angels, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, & Fear & Loathing on the Campaign Trail '72. There are excerpts from these, & many more shorter pieces that span his career from its very beginnings through the later 1970s- the prime of "America's Quintessential Outlaw Journalist" (dust jacket front cover). Offered here is the first edition, first printing as indicated by number sequence on copyright page, hardcover in dust jacket featuring a maniacal illustration by Ralph Steadman, Thompson's symbiotic Boswellian illustrator, on back cover. An essential, collectible milestone in the canon of Hunter S. Thompson- among this writer's favorites, having met him personally on several occasions- but that's another story... Book in near-fine condition with light wear to edges & esp. corners of front, back covers & spine; light rubbing, spotting & occasional scratches to edges of text block, esp. upper edge. Interior fine with moderate browning-spotting to blank paste-downs & endpapers; previous owner's signature below right edge of front endpaper; one instance of marginalia (parentheses with asterisk next to last paragraph pg. 185 not effecting terrific text); miniscule bumps-closed tears at bottom edges of a few page leaves. Dust Jacket is relatively good-to-near-fine condition with mild rubbing & light faint creasing, scratching to front, back covers, spine & flap; mild wear & a few bumps to edges & corners of cover; moderate-to-significant wear, creasing & mostly closed tears at spine-edges & corners; small areas of what appear to be paper &/or tape repair-overlays at upper spine edge. Near Fine / Good- Near Fine. [Item #3442]

Price: $40.00