Not to many authors have critics and readers alike arguing over his birth year. The date is no doubt, July 18, but when it comes to the year an argument breaks out. Some say 1937, and others say 1939. In “When the Going Gets Weird,” by Peter O. Whitman states that Thompson was born in 1937, later stating “in 1946[…] Hunter was 9” (32), also placing his birth year in 1937. However, William McKeen states in “Hunter S. Thompson” that his birth year was 1939. There is even a we

Hunter S. Thompson has been a large influence in Contemporary Journalism from the 60 to the present. Pushing the boundaries, he is considered an outstanding writer and political commentator. His writings have started a new type of Journalism, Gonzo Journalism, which is further branching off into new categories. Through all of his struggles and hard times, he has proven that writing does not have to follow a plot, or fall into fact or fiction, but can bridge the gap between all aspects of writing. His writings have also branched into other medias; specifically film. His extraordinary tales of deviance and deceit searching for the true America have captured many imaginations. In his quest for the American dream, he is living his American Dream:

However, Thompson’s history with the law and the press leave little skeptics of truth behind his writing. “Thompson added women and whiskey to the 5 W’s of writing…(Whitman, Aquarius)” Thompson’s excesses played a large role in The Kentucky Derby… but although a large influence on his writings, its his social and political views that make this writing a contemporary journalism classic. To illustrate the side of society that other journalists fear to is daring and sometimes chilling.

Thompson decided to reside in New York for a couple of years. He bounced around the state about as fast as he went through jobs. He moved to New York City in 1958, working as a copyboy and “Caribbean Correspondent” for Time and attends Columbia University on a partial scholarship. Within a year he moves to the Catskill Mountains in upper New York. Here he works on a novel, ‘Prince Jellyfish’. This same year, 1959, he meets his future wife Sandy Dawn. He finds a job in the spring of 59 at the Middletown Daily Record, which upset the Advertisers, and was fired in the summer for attacking the candy machine. He then acquired a job at the New York Herald Tribune. Fall came around, and Thompson decided to move with Paul Semonin to Puerto Rico. They found work at El Sportivo, a bowling magazine. (Whitman, Aquarius Revisited)

bpage debating what year Thompson was born-(http://www.gonzo.org/hst/ht/date.html). For the purposes of this paper, we will go with the more recognized date-June 18, 1937.

In 2000, new controversy arises around Thompson when he accidentally shot his long time secretary Deborah Fuller. He later explains the story on his publicity tour at ‘Late Night With Conan O’Brien’ in early 2001. Living in Colorado’s natureside exposes the risk for interaction with wildlife. One Day, a black bear was spotted near Thompson’s home. The bear continually wandered closer to his house, “interested in food, no doubt” Thompson stated. The black bear came within feet of Thompson’s secretary, who had just arrived & was walking from her car to the house. Thompson retrieves one of the many loaded firearms located throughout his country estate, and fired in the general direction of the bear. Unfortunately, the gun was loaded with bird shot, a fast spreading small media shot. Most of the small pellets hit the ground just feet away from where secretary and bear stood, ricocheting rocks and other debris towards them. The bear ran off scared, and the secretary sustained little injury to the lower portion of her legs. Few penetrated the skin, and most of the injury was ‘bruising in result of blunt trauma”. Speculations arise around the motive, even though no charges were pressed and she recovered in weeks. In November of 2000, Thompson releases the second series of his earliest letters named Fear and Loathing in America. His next publication came in winter of 2003. Kingdom of Fear, his last letter collection is published. (Thompson, Kingdom of Fear)

The Kentucky Derby can illustrate many changes in the American culture during the late 1960’s early 1970’s. The essay, contrary to its name, is a study of the spectators of not only the Kentuck

Some topics in this essay:
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