The jokes over Memories of Hunter S. Thompson by Ralph Steadman

Strewn about my room are dog eared texts. Half read books that have been cast aside with disdain and disinterest when they have become boring or convoluted. I must point out at this time, there is a certain amount of arrogance on my part whilst entertaining such thoughts and actions. One book that has not fallen prey to this most childish of gestures is – The Jokes Over, memories of Hunter S. Thompson by Ralph Steadman.

Many of you will know the name Ralph Steadman, but more of you won’t. If you have by chance ever picked up a book by the late, great Dr Hunter S. Thompson, you will already be acquainted with Steadman’s’ work. The majority of Thompson’s work has been illustrated by Steadman; they have also collaborated on a number of works. Thompson himself claiming that “I need your goddamn drawings to finish it Ralph!” He has also released a number of his own books, the most recent one being collaboration with Will Self called – Psychogeography.

The book in question (The jokes over) spans the entire 35 years of friendship – if that’s what you care to call it- Thompson and Steadman shared. Starting from Steadman’s inauguration into the Gonzo lifestyle and wayward way of thinking at the 1970 Kentucky derby right up until 3 months prior to Thompson’s death, when the Dr of journalism stole Steadman’s Honeydew melon whilst he was sleeping.

The book rarely has a dull moment, well it is hard to have a dull moment when you’re telling stories of the Dr. There are a few arduous chapters when Steadman is speaking about himself and his family but these are few and far between. Steadman instead opting to cash in and tell the drug fuelled stories that everybody wants to hear. For example a time when Steadman were both on a boat covering the story of a yacht race when Steadman decides to take a mystery drug which Thompson has on his person, this later turns out to be some horrible acid/upper combination and they both end up in a row boat trying to spray paint “Fuck the pope” on one of the multi million pound racing yachts. Other stories that crop up are coverage of the Muhammad Ali – Foreman fight in Zaire where The Dr buys a large bag of grass and pedals it to the other journalists, then moments before the big fight sells his and Steadman’s ringside tickets and decides to take a dip in the pool with the remainder of the bag of grass thrown in for good measure. Another is that of their trips to Hawaii whilst writing the - Curse of Lono and the subsequent years of writing and rewriting that followed. Which I believe gives you a valuable insight into the lengthy process of writing a book.

All in all this entire book is informative and funny and brimming with Gonzotic thought. The book contains numerous faxes/letters/ phone calls and other verbatim. Along side all this are 3 sets of photos which come in 6 page spreads, they too span the entire 35 year friendship. This book is fantastic for anybody who is interested in the late great Dr and anybody who is interested in Steadman himself who’s art is everywhere in this book. This review is slightly biased as I find myself drawn to anything Hunter S. Thompson touches. The book clocks in at 387 pages and is a pleasure to read from start to finish, might I add the closing chapter which is a letter to Thompson after his death by Ralph Steadman is very touching and above all things honest.