Gonzo 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 … 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.
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Where Gonzo Journalism got its start.
An interesting look at the evolution of motorcycle clubs post World War II through the 1960’s from a journalist who rode with them.
It was a good read.
Not one of his strongest pieces of writing but boy did HST foresee the dystopian hellscape born of white male alienation we find ourselves in today.
Talks about people I know.
I think the is great book about hell’s angel. they rode the motorcycle and drugs and rape, etc.
I may not know the opening paragraph of this book word for word but I remember the jaw-dropping exhilaration of reading it for the very first time. Straight away you’re on the back of a Harley, in a pack of greasy, thick-booted bikers, sensing how they savor scaring the crap out of the squares—which would be us, dear reader. More than Fear and …
This Book Is One Of The Best M.C. Stories Written, Where All Hell Breaks Loose Out Of Motorcycle Clubs, And Onto The Streets Of California. Hunter Thompson Rolls Along With Hells Angels Leader Sonny Barger, As A Sidekick Writer For The Creative Militant People; While Drinking Beers, Sexing Ladies; And Fighting Gangs.
Though written in late 2016, I recently stumbled upon this article in The Nation about how with Hell’s Angels, Hunter Thompson predicted the rise of Trumpism. So, for the first time in 13 years, I revisited the book to see if that appraisal was correct. Personally, I find it to be spot-on.
Many people, including me, occasionally lament that …
In my opinion, this is Thompson’s best work. It’s unbelievably thorough and he backs up his statements with facts and citations. Always the iconoclast, when you can cite chapter and verse from source documents, it makes his points crystal clear. This book was far more about the perception of the Hell’s Angels than it was about their actions or …
This is a great book from an amazing author. As a teen this author permanently changed my life for the better, he is my hero for many reasons including and outside of his literary works. This book is a great nonfiction about how the hells angels really was back in that time. The author legitimately ran with them for a year or so and documented it …
I read this as research for my latest work. Always a Hunter S Thompson fan, this was the first I’ve read prior to the gonzo era.