Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible SagaGonzo journalist and literary roustabout Hunter S. Thompson flies with the angels—Hell’s Angels, that is—in this short work of nonfiction. “California, Labor Day weekend . . . early, with ocean fog still in the streets, outlaw motorcyclists wearing chains, shades and greasy Levis roll out from damp garages, all-night diners and cast-off one-night pads in Frisco, Hollywood, Berdoo and East Oakland, heading for the Monterey peninsula, north of Big Sur. . . The Menace is loose again.” Thus begins Hunter S. Thompson’s vivid account of his experiences with California’s most notorious motorcycle gang, the Hell’s Angels. In the mid-1960s, Thompson spent almost two years living with the controversial Angels, cycling up and down the coast, reveling in the anarchic spirit of their clan, and, as befits their name, raising hell. His book successfully captures a singular moment in American history, when the biker lifestyle was first defined, and when such countercultural movements were electrifying and horrifying America. Thompson, the creator of Gonzo journalism, writes with his usual bravado, energy, and brutal honesty, and with a nuanced and incisive eye; as The New Yorker pointed out, “For all its uninhibited and sardonic humor, Thompson’s book is a thoughtful piece of work.” As illuminating now as when originally published in 1967, Hell’s Angels is a gripping portrait, and the best account we have of the truth behind an American legend. |
What people are saying - Write a review
User ratings
| 5 stars |
| ||
| 4 stars |
| ||
| 3 stars |
| ||
| 2 stars |
| ||
| 1 star |
|
Reviews aren't verified, but Google checks for and removes fake content when it's identified
LibraryThing Review
User Review - DanielSTJ - LibraryThingThis was, through and through, a great piece of writing and an amazing chronicle of non-fiction by Hunter S. Thompson. The writing was vivid, descriptive, electrifying, and insightful and provided ... Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - HenriMoreaux - LibraryThingThe impression I get from reading this is that Thompson was quite happy to find excuses and rationalise the violence, rape, gang rape, racism and criminality of the Hell's Angels until such time as ... Read full review
Contents
Section 1 | 21 |
Section 2 | 33 |
Section 3 | 50 |
Section 4 | 56 |
Section 5 | 67 |
Section 6 | 77 |
Section 7 | 85 |
Section 8 | 97 |
Section 13 | 151 |
Section 14 | 158 |
Section 15 | 167 |
Section 16 | 179 |
Section 17 | 187 |
Section 18 | 201 |
Section 19 | 206 |
Section 20 | 218 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
action American appeared arrested asked Barger Bass Lake beer began bikes California called cause chapter club colors coming cops County crowd didn't don't dozen explained face feel fight finally fire five forced four friends gang girl give guys half hand happened hard head heard hell Hell's Angels highway hundred jail keep kind later least less live looked mean miles months morning motorcycle move nearly never night Oakland once outlaws parking party passed police question rape reason ride riot road San Francisco scene seemed side Sonny standing stopped story street talking Terry thing thousand Tiny told took town traffic tried trouble turned wanted wearing week weekend whole wild York
Bibliographic information
| Title | Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga Modern Library Series Modern library of the world's best books |
| Author | Hunter S. Thompson |
| Contributor | Douglas Brinkley |
| Edition | reprint |
| Publisher | Random House Publishing Group, 1999 |
| ISBN | 067960331X, 9780679603313 |
| Length | 288 pages |
| Subjects | › Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs Literary Collections / Essays Social Science / Popular Culture |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |