The Proud Highway: Saga of a Desperate Southern Gentleman, 1955-1967

This may be my favorite Hunter Thompson book. It's a collection of letters (he saved carbons of everything he ever wrote) from a young writer, not yet proven, but cocksure and brash as they come. He reaches out to publishers, politicians, and friends as he begins to carve a niche as a journalist and novelist.

It's his most honest writing, and as all these letters were written before his legend had surpassed his talent, you don't get the 'Gonzo' treatment, or the lazy indignation that fueled his later work, but a hungry, ambitious craftsman, pummeling his readers with words in an effort to impress, inspire, and intimidate.

Before the drugs and the madness, the fear and the loathing, there was a simple Southern Gentleman, trying like hell show more to become the next Hemingway. show less

Jesus Harvey Christ, finally! It took me an eternity to get through this. That's not a complaint as it is an observation; frame that in this: though a wonderful read - I can't count how many times I laughed, no, guffawed out loud - it is a bit long in the tooth. Some letters are a bit redundant and the book could have been better served with a few deletions. On to the next volume...

HST was a prolific letter writer and this first volume reveals an author and personality in the midst of finding his eventual voice and taking the initial steps at creating that infamous "outlaw" image. Funny and certainly fans of the author will find it indispensable.

Totally agree NateJordon. I read a majority of this book during my breaks at work and I think people around me thought I was crazy because of how often I would laugh out loud at his writings. It was pure Hunter, same style of writing as his journalism, but with a more personal feel and added insights to what was going on in his life. I also felt like it took forever to finish, but I tried to view it as a marathon, not a sprint. I recommend this to any HTS fan!

This is an excellent collection of Hunter Thompson's letters during the 60's. He was so gutsy he travelled as a free lance reporter to South America with only $30 in his pocket. He got his highly acclaimed stories published. Then went on to live with the Hells's Angels and write a book about them. I love this man.

I can't recommend this book highly enough, especially for any aspiring authors or anyone taking the path less traveled. This series of letters gets you into Thompson's head as he developed as an adult and as a writer. It's an amazingly honest biography, and you come away almost feeling like you know him.

Good book.