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THE JOKE'S OVER
Ralph Steadman on Hunter S.
Thompson
Harcourt
396 pages
"When I first came to America at the
beginning of the seventies I was charmed
by a certain naive enthusiasm. Only 35
years later, a disease has rotted the very
heart of America that doesn't seem to
want life and liberty anymore. America is
ripe for lies and lethargy."
Ralph Steadman, from, The Joke's Over
When in February 2005 a real gone
gonzo Hunter S. Thompson sat at his
Woody Creek, Colorado kitchen and
blew his brains out, one of the most
original writers and thinkers was lost.
Lost too, was an amazing 35 year
partnership between HST, and British
illustrator and artist, Ralph Steadman,
pictured at left.
So, Steadman, who while not a writer
considers himself a bit of a poet as
well as one of the most innovative and
disturbing illustrators in the last 100
years has given the old gonzo try at
explaining his (obviously) bizarre
working relationship with Thompson.
(The title of the book comes from a
comment HST made to Steadman
during a dispute between the two.)
Yet the real genesis of this amply
illustrated book, is whether Steadman
has come to praise, or damn Hunter.
Steadman conveys in a prose that is
reminiscent of his mentor/partner an
obvious respect and even affection for
Hunter, yet there is also bitterness for
what Steadman perceives at
Thompson's short-changing of both
Ralph's artistic worth to Hunter's work.
But perhaps even more prescient, is
Steadman's allegation that not only did
Thompson not really assist Steadman
in getting paid fairly for his work, but
also at Hunter's habit-according to
Steadman-of outright lifting many of
Ralph's original drawings, through the
years.
Of course there is also more than a
hint of rage on Steadman's part at
Thompson's suicide, but that is a
rather commonplace mood for those
left behind.
There are also some rather unique
insights-which I'm sure the HST Nation
will eat up-by Steadman, from the
Kentucky Derby, the Ali/Foreman fight,
the BBC doc on Hunter filmed in the
late 70s, and the first feature film on
Thompson, Where The Buffalo Roam.
And to close the book, Steadman does
what many colleagues and family of
suiciders do; he writes the dead a
letter.
Steadman, who maintains that HST
killed himself because all hope was
lost when George W. Bush was
re-elected in 2004, writes to his
martyred friend, "you carved a place
for your massive dream and left no
space for those would fight on.
But you leave us with a blueprint, ole
sport. Take it up with the Gods. Send
word."
Ralph Steadman on Hunter S.
Thompson
Harcourt
396 pages
"When I first came to America at the
beginning of the seventies I was charmed
by a certain naive enthusiasm. Only 35
years later, a disease has rotted the very
heart of America that doesn't seem to
want life and liberty anymore. America is
ripe for lies and lethargy."
Ralph Steadman, from, The Joke's Over
When in February 2005 a real gone
gonzo Hunter S. Thompson sat at his
Woody Creek, Colorado kitchen and
blew his brains out, one of the most
original writers and thinkers was lost.
Lost too, was an amazing 35 year
partnership between HST, and British
illustrator and artist, Ralph Steadman,
pictured at left.
So, Steadman, who while not a writer
considers himself a bit of a poet as
well as one of the most innovative and
disturbing illustrators in the last 100
years has given the old gonzo try at
explaining his (obviously) bizarre
working relationship with Thompson.
(The title of the book comes from a
comment HST made to Steadman
during a dispute between the two.)
Yet the real genesis of this amply
illustrated book, is whether Steadman
has come to praise, or damn Hunter.
Steadman conveys in a prose that is
reminiscent of his mentor/partner an
obvious respect and even affection for
Hunter, yet there is also bitterness for
what Steadman perceives at
Thompson's short-changing of both
Ralph's artistic worth to Hunter's work.
But perhaps even more prescient, is
Steadman's allegation that not only did
Thompson not really assist Steadman
in getting paid fairly for his work, but
also at Hunter's habit-according to
Steadman-of outright lifting many of
Ralph's original drawings, through the
years.
Of course there is also more than a
hint of rage on Steadman's part at
Thompson's suicide, but that is a
rather commonplace mood for those
left behind.
There are also some rather unique
insights-which I'm sure the HST Nation
will eat up-by Steadman, from the
Kentucky Derby, the Ali/Foreman fight,
the BBC doc on Hunter filmed in the
late 70s, and the first feature film on
Thompson, Where The Buffalo Roam.
And to close the book, Steadman does
what many colleagues and family of
suiciders do; he writes the dead a
letter.
Steadman, who maintains that HST
killed himself because all hope was
lost when George W. Bush was
re-elected in 2004, writes to his
martyred friend, "you carved a place
for your massive dream and left no
space for those would fight on.
But you leave us with a blueprint, ole
sport. Take it up with the Gods. Send
word."
