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PEOPLE & ARTS Wednesday 31 OctOber 2018
Review: Hunter S. Thompson

bio tackles late reporter's drive

By RUSSELL CONTRERAS
Associated Press
The common image of
the late journalist Hunter S.
Thompson is one of a drug-
induced writer who rode In this Oct. 11, 2018 file photo, Michelle Obama participates in
with the Hells Angels, often the International Day of the Girl on NBC's "Today" show in New
shot up his red IBM Selectric York. Associated Press
typewriter and helped Chi-
cano attorney Oscar Zeta
Acosta burn the lawn of a Winfrey, Witherspoon
California judge.
But a new book on the among guests on
counterculture crusader
attempts to dig deeper
into the mission of a writer Michelle Obama tour
who pushed "gonzo jour-
nalism" — a style of journal-
ism written without claims NEW YORK (AP) — Oprah Crown Publishing on Tues-
Winfrey and Reese Wither-
day.
of objectivity and with the
journalist at the center. spoon will be among the Obama's book comes out
special guests when Mi-
Nov. 13 and her tour be-
"Freak Kingdom: Hunter S.
Thompson's Manic Ten-Year chelle Obama goes on tour gins that night at Chicago's
United Center, with Winfrey
for her memoir "Becoming."
Crusade Against American
Fascism" by Timothy Denevi Others appearing with the serving as moderator. With-
former first lady will include erspoon will join Obama in
looks into the events of the
turbulent 1960s and 1970s Sarah Jessica Parker, Mi- Denver and Jarrett in Wash-
chele Norris and former ington, D.C. Obama will
that drove Thompson to lit-
erary journalism and his de- White House aide Valerie make 12 stops in all, ending
Jarrett.
in New York City's Barclay
sire to tackle what he saw
as a rising tide of fascism The announcement was Center on Dec. 19, with
in the United States. That made by Live Nation and Parker as moderator.q
included the assassination
of President John F. Kenne-
dy, the persistence of the
Vietnam War and the rise
of President Richard Nixon
and his monitoring of activ-
ist groups. For Thompson,
these events were an at-
tack on the essence of the
foundation of the United
States and humanities. He
decided early on to use his This cover image released by PublicAffairs shows "Freak King-
skills as a journalist to com- dom: Hunter S. Thompson's Manis Ten-Year Crusade Against
bat the rise of a totalitarian- American Fascism" by Timothy Denevi.
ism event when it affected Associated Press
his mental state, his mar-
riage and his health. indeed disturbed by the culture pal, Acosta. The PBS This Feb. 28, 1968 file photo shows The Beatles, from left, Paul
For example, Denevi writes plight of young protesters, documentary "The Rise and McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison.
that after the police attack Chicanos and other minori- Fall of the Brown Buffalo" Associated Press
on anti-war protesters at ties as the federal govern- that aired earlier this year
touched upon the pair
ment sought to quiet dis-
the 1968 Democratic Na- sent. He wouldn't be silent, during the Chicano Move- Beatles release new
tional Convention, Thomp-
The renewed interest in video for 'Glass Onion'
son escaped to his Chica- especially during the Nixon ment in Los Angeles.
go hotel room to contem- presidency.
plate the image of police Denevi, an assistant profes- Thompson comes amid self-
beating journalists. "His sor in the MFA program at reflection by many journal- on Apple Music
clothes stank with chemi- George Mason University, ists in the era of President
cals. His gut aches," Denevi crafts his biography like a Donald Trump and worries
writes. "His entire body was nonfiction novel, letting his over fraudulent news sites. NEW YORK (AP) — The ninth album, often referred
shaking. He couldn't write. research unfold in a capi- Denevi's work reminds us Beatles have released a to as the "White Album,"
None of it made sense." tating narrative that plac- that the persistent concern new music video on Apple which celebrates its 50th
Unlike other portrayals of es readers at some of the about totalitarianism over- Music for their 1968 song, anniversary this year.
Thompson as a simplistic most important episodes of whelming free speech isn't "Glass Onion." The Beatles will re-release
alcohol-driver journalist Thompson's career. something new. And 50 The video was released the "White Album" on Nov.
who brushed off identity The biography is the lat- years ago, one journalist Tuesday and features rare 9, featuring 30 tracks newly
politics, Denevi's book ar- est entry into the lives of decided to do something photos and performance mixed by Giles Martin, the
gues that Thompson was Thompson and his counter- about it.q footage. The song ap- son of longtime Beatles
peared on their self-titled producer George Martin.q