Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

About “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a 1971 novel by Hunter S. Thompson written in the gonzo journalism style. It is a roman à clef based on the author's own experiences. The story follows Raoul Duke and his attorney, Doctor Gonzo, as they travel to Las Vegas in search of the American Dream while under the influence of drugs. The book reflects on the failure of the 1960s countercultural movement. Thompson's blend of fact and fiction helped define gonzo journalism. The novel was first published as a two-part series in Rolling Stone in 1971 and later in book form in 1972. It was adapted into a film in 1998, directed by Terry Gilliam, with Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro playing the main characters. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.)