Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
First edition
AuthorHunter S. Thompson
IllustratorRalph Steadman
LanguageEnglish
SeriesGonzo Series
GenreGonzo journalism
PublisherRandom House
Publication date
November 11, 1971 (magazine)
July 7, 1972 (book)
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages204 pp
ISBN0-679-78589-2
OCLC41049769
070/.92 B 21
LC ClassPN4874.T444 A3 1998b

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream is a 1971 novel in the gonzo journalism style by Hunter S. Thompson. The book is a roman à clef, rooted in autobiographical incidents. The story follows its protagonist, Raoul Duke, and his attorney, Doctor Gonzo, as they descend on Las Vegas to chase the American Dream through a drug-induced haze, all the while ruminating on the failure of the 1960s countercultural movement. The work is Thompson's most famous book and is noted for its lurid descriptions of illicit drug use and its early retrospective on the culture of the 1960s. Thompson's highly subjective blend of fact and fiction, which it popularized, became known as gonzo journalism. Illustrated by Ralph Steadman, the novel first appeared as a two-part series in Rolling Stone magazine in 1971 before being published in book form in 1972. It was later adapted into a film of the same title in 1998 by director Terry Gilliam, starring Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro, who portrayed Raoul Duke and Dr. Gonzo, respectively.