- Paperback: 273 pages
- Publisher: Ballantine Books Inc.; 1st Ballantine Books Trade Ed edition (1 Jan 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0345410084
- ISBN-13: 978-0345410085
- Product Dimensions: 13.9 x 1.9 x 20.9 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,416,836 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
'There are only two adjectives writers care about any more - "brilliant" and "outrageous" - and Hunter has a freehold on both of them.' Tom Wolfe 'The first rock-star writer' Guardian
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
"California, Labor Day weekend . . . early, with ocean fog still in the streets, outlaw motorcyclists wearing chains, shades and greasy Levis roll out from damp garages, all-night diners and cast-off one-night pads in Frisco, Hollywood, Berdoo and East Oakland, heading for the Monterey peninsula, north of Big Sur. . . The Menace is loose again." Thus begins Hunter S. Thompson's vivid account of his experiences with California's most no-torious motorcycle gang, the Hell's Angels. In the mid-1960s, Thompson spent almost two years living with the controversial An-gels, cycling up and down the coast, reveling in the anarchic spirit of their clan, and, as befits their name, raising hell. His book successfully captures a singular moment in American history, when the biker lifestyle was first defined, and when such countercultural movements were electrifying and horrifying America. Thompson, the creator of Gonzo journalism, writes with his usual bravado, energy, and brutal honesty, and with a nuanced and incisive eye; as The New Yorker pointed out, "For all its uninhibited and sardonic humor, Thompson's book is a thoughtful piece of work." As illuminating now as when originally published in 1967, Hell's Angels is a gripping portrait, and the best account we have of the truth behind an American legend.
From the Hardcover edition.
From the Hardcover edition.
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First Sentence
California, Labor Day weekend... early, with ocean fog still in the streets, outlaw motorcyclists wearing chains, shades and greasy Levi's roll out from damp garages, all-night diners and cast-off one-night pads in Frisco, Hollywood, Berdoo and East Oakland, heading for the Monterey peninsula, north of Big Sur... Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt
California, Labor Day weekend... early, with ocean fog still in the streets, outlaw motorcyclists wearing chains, shades and greasy Levi's roll out from damp garages, all-night diners and cast-off one-night pads in Frisco, Hollywood, Berdoo and East Oakland, heading for the Monterey peninsula, north of Big Sur... Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
An interesting historical account of one side of 60's American Society which still remains hidden territory to this day.
Hells Angels is a well written, informative and entertaining book documenting the history of, and the author's involvement with the Hells Angels. It illustrates the conflicting views of the Angels, society, press and authorities of the mid 60's. Though the accuracy of the account is still limited to that of an outside observer, so readers may wish to also read the leader of the Oakland Hells Angels own account : Sonny S. Barger's 'Hell's Angel: The Life and Times of Sonny Barger and the Hell's Angels Motorcycle Club' to get an insider viewpoint. The two books provide an interesting contrast in views.
Never-the-less 'Hells Angels' remains a rich and involving read which, once started, is difficult to put down - a must for all who are even mildly interested in Biker culture.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is certainly an interesting read and who better to cast his eye over the last outlaw group of the 20th century than one of the original outlaw journalists. This is a very entertaining read and I would reccomend this to anybody who lives any kind of "alternative" lifestyle. However once you have read this you must read Hells Angel by Sonny Barger who is mentioned throughout this book and reading his book you notice that Thompson's book is not quite as good as it first seems so read it before you read Sonny's. Enjoy
Format:Paperback
I first bought a 1967 copy of this book in the seventies, which is now falling to bits. So in order to read it for the six or seventh time I ordered a new copy. If you are happy to read it on the understanding that it is a very one sided version of events from Hunter S Thompson - it is a great read. You get a real feel and appreciation of what life amongst the original sixties Hells Angels must have been like, written by a clever and interesting writer in Thompson.
For a balanced and I would guess more accurate view of events you need go no further than original Angel - Sonny Barger's autobiography, in which references are made to Thompsons book, and from reading both - interesting comparisons and view points can be made.
For an acid tripping, drug and booze fuelled crazy view of the Hells Angels, and the best of all in my opinion has to be 'Freewhweelin Frank' by an early Frisco member Frank Reynolds. A great read, mainly I think because Frank comes across as wild, stoned and crazy as most of us imagine these guys were back then,
For a balanced and I would guess more accurate view of events you need go no further than original Angel - Sonny Barger's autobiography, in which references are made to Thompsons book, and from reading both - interesting comparisons and view points can be made.
For an acid tripping, drug and booze fuelled crazy view of the Hells Angels, and the best of all in my opinion has to be 'Freewhweelin Frank' by an early Frisco member Frank Reynolds. A great read, mainly I think because Frank comes across as wild, stoned and crazy as most of us imagine these guys were back then,
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good book.
This is a good book. He is a good writer, very interesting. It was well-packed and came in time for christmas.
Published 4 months ago by Patsy
A journalistic masterpiece
With brutal, verging on foolhardy, honesty Hunter S Thomson chronicles his extensive dealings with, and observations on, the Hell's Angels. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Doc
More defence than offence
Written at a time when the psychology of gangs was an amnesia, Thompson took
Merton's anomie theory and gets to grips with some big sociological and psychological themes. Read more
Merton's anomie theory and gets to grips with some big sociological and psychological themes. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Dr. Delvis Memphistopheles
Not the Doctors greatest work, but still very easy to read
This book is not Hunter's finest work, but is still very easy to read and very funny in places.
I dont regret buying it as I'm a collector of HST work. Read more
I dont regret buying it as I'm a collector of HST work. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Neil Gibbs
A brilliant piece of journalism about America's dark side
Written in 1966 this is a classic work on the Hells Angels phenomenon that emerged out of the 1950s in Northern California. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Neil Kernohan
The Hell's Angels in Transition
This is a very good examination of the Hell's Angels in the early to mid 1960s, at a time when they started to generate lots of news coverage and concern in the US, to the point at... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Mr. D. E. Calladine
Interesting period piece
A good read, with Hunter S Thompson's writing style particularly enjoyable.
Would reccomend to anybody looking for a book to digest on a journey, or over a couple of nights as... Read more
Would reccomend to anybody looking for a book to digest on a journey, or over a couple of nights as... Read more
Published 22 months ago by James Connolly
Nice one Hunter. RIP.
Hunter S. lives on a dangerous tightrope trying to stay factual and alive in his expose` of life with the big 81. (8=H and 1=A) Get it? Read more
Published on 26 Mar 2010 by S. Donald
Useless and irritating
Foreword: I am a motorcyclist and not a puritan at all.
This book is useless because it is not a novel drawn from the Hell's Angels, it is not about travelling in the... Read more
This book is useless because it is not a novel drawn from the Hell's Angels, it is not about travelling in the... Read more
Published on 12 Nov 2009 by F. Panin
Getting drunk and running amok amongst the worthy citizens
Hunter S Thompson depicts the rise of the phenomenon known as Hell's Angels from the early 1950s, when they were epitomised as lonely, misunderstood rebels in the film The Wild... Read more
Published on 4 Oct 2009 by Eileen Shaw
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