"Over the course of Hunter S. Thompson's extraordinary life he was publicly branded a bum, a vandal, a thief, a liar, an addict, a freak and a psychopath. Only some of which were true. Even in a 20th century crowded with celebrity, his legacy retains a brilliantly vital force. The grat American iconclast, the great American outlaw, the great American hedonist ... However you choose to view him, Thompson remains the high-water mark for all social commentators the world over, and a truly fearless champion of individual liberties. This is his story ... the story of a troubled kid from Louisville, Kentucky, who went on to become an international icon. This is a story that charts the legendary heights of the so-called "Gonzo journalism", plumbs the darkest depths of American politics, and presents a lifestyle beyond imagination."--Back cover.