Ralph Steadman Books

any book by Ralph Steadman requires serious and not so serious reading. his perspective on life is truly unique and worthy of consideration.

May the ghost of Hunter S. Thompson come down and become the next President of the United States - and may Ralph Steadman be his Art Director!

I'm very pleased with my purchase...It arrived promptly, well packaged, and in stellar condition. A flawless venture.

I love his work, have since he did the cover art and animation for Pink Floyd The Wall. This book is worth grabbing if you respect the artistic value of total insanity and the furthering of freedom of expression.

Having had, as many people did, my first taste of Ralph via Hunter S Thompson's books, I found this to be a great introduction to the Hyperactive and frantic style of a dude who is probably my favourite artist. This has a forward by Hunter, gives great colour examples of his works in the realm of Gonzo, and also has many written, poetical works, and songs. My fave piece is 'Stand up and be counted.' IE: The maverick beast will ALWAYS raise his head in the crowd. A perfect definition of Gonzo.

This book is filled with loads of laugh-out-loud scenes. O'Brien is especially good at setting up a scene and then delivering a hilarious punchline. Even when the reader can predict how the joke will play out, O'Brien teases the story out in such a way to make the humor even funnier. Each chapter is episodic and stands on its own, but there's a wonderful arc to the entire book. The allusions to Irish history, literature, and folklore add to the writing, and O'Brien really captures the style of writers like Tomas O'Crohan and Peig Sayers. There also are some clever allusions to Wm Butler Yeats and John Millington Syne. I found the satire to be a good-natured, tongue-in-cheek humor that revolves around hyperbole and even surrealism. I find it curious that some fans of Gaelic literature, especially those who admire the real "poor mouth" writers, would be offended by the book. I like the writing of O'Crohan, Sayers, and others, and O'Brien's satire actually seems to complement and enhance the humor in their books, rather than cynically criticize their tomes. O'Brien's real target seems to be more focused on the misty-eyed romanticism of readers of Gaelic writing.

The bleak atmosphere and the beautiful, flowing prose in "The Poor Mouth" are completely at odds, which is what makes this novel so hilarious. O'Coonassa has no idea what's happening to him much of the time, but he dutifully records it as best he can, with amazingly comical results.

The concept here is much like a Buster Keaton film, in that the protagonist is presumably ignorant, but he keeps a sharp eye on events, and he's basically good-hearted (except when he has to resort to stealing a pig or a chicken or some silverware, just to stay alive).

Have you ever had a laughing fit while reading on a bus? It was almost enough to have me committed.Although not personally aware of any Irish in my blood, the way this erupted in me makes it a strong chance.

It has never been better explained why so many Irish ended up in America and elsewhere abroad. A true story!

Lighten up guys. This is satire. Flan O'Brien is satirising those - like Yeats - who mythologised a Celtic and Gaelic past that never existed. The spirit is like Paddy Kananagh - but it's satire rather than gritty realism. Understand?

This book is an inside joke, and a classic at that. It is a grand send up of professional Irish (both at home and abroad). As example, consider a book written in Gaelic making sport of the Gaelic movement by means of a Gaelic festival. ( In ourland of the professional ethnic festival, this might serve as an effective antidote to "Irish" nights and "Scots weekends.") If you are inclined to romanticize villages of the old sod dominated by pigs, mud, rain and potatos, avoid this work. If you want a great classic of the jaundiced eye school of literature, read this book. By the way, some of the fun lies in the many parodies of Irish literary works in the assorted chapters; knowledge of the genre helps.

This novel is a classic of American Literature in the same right as Moby Dick, The Scarlet Letter, The Catcher in the Rye, and countless others. True, it's not appreciated by everyone (as can be seen in the reviews below) but neither was and is Moby Dick. This is definitely a baroque classic too, and it was groundbreaking in its own time (which it may not be anymore, logically, but that's not all the book is about, far from that).

As some have said before me, it's indeed a great window open on an era now dead: the sad end of all the dreams of the 60's; and that is important to our own time because I am not sure we ever recovered from all those dead dreams. Even in my generation, I know a lot of people who still look back with major nostalgia even though they didn't even exist exist in the 60's. That was a very significant moment in time during the 20th century and it certainly set the setting for as far as today.

Some say there is no real plot to this book; much the same can be and was said about Moby Dick. I won't deny that, but I will point out that not all books are about "plots" and that there is ALWAYS a plot, no matter how minimal or nonsensical it gets. A trip to nowhere without any clear direction in search of the American Dream, what do you expect? A clear plot with obvious twists and the likes? Of course not.

That book is fun, disturbing, daring, and much deeper and serious than it may appear to the shallow reader. Definitely worth it, and definitely classic. Wandering around the still smoking embers of the Fallen Dream with Hunter S. Thompson is an experience you don't want to miss.

This was the first book by Thompson that I ever read, some 10 years ago, and it truly opened my eyes to an entirely new literary world of action and well, savagery. This is as odd, brutal, funny, strange, and well, savage, as other reviewers have pointed out. Mr Thompson has a brilliant way of writing that truly lets the reader feel the bad craziness that's going on in the story, or at least feel the adrenaline pumping. His descriptions and metaphors as indeed his language are spot on and incredibly well conceived (he did indeed have a vivid imagination). He always proclaimed later, that there was only one man who could've written "Fear and Lothing in Las Vegas", and I believe he is right.

I recommend reading the book in one go, take an afternoon with a good whiskey near by (only don't get so drunk you don't know the world around you) and read the book cover to cover. It's really a gratifying experience. You can leave out the drink, but the cover to cover in one go is a must. This way of reading really lets you feel the intensity of the story. And my oh my is it ever intense!

Highest possible recommendation. Get it now!

That so many people have tried to justify, make sense of and interpret Thompson's pseudo-fiction in literal terms only indicates how many asinine, clueless people have read this magnificently absurd book. All that's required when reading HST's drug-addled interpretation of his misadventures with Acosta is to simply ingest, and to set your inhibitive sense of reality aside while doing so.

In his correspondence, literature and journalism, HST ably explains how he rode the crest, slope and break of the most exciting, disheveled period in the history of American culture. His written discourse is invaluable for obtaining a clear understanding of a muddled and dynamic era, where dysfunction of many varieties constituted the norm and both the freedom afforded by a permissive society and its' technological advances were exploited for enormous personal gain. In a time when America is descending into a sanitized quagmire of mediocrity and sedation, we could only hope for so much.

"Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream" by Hunter S. Thompson

Hunter Thompson practiced total immersion journalism. This form of reporting is called gonzo journalism.

Hunter Thompson drove to Las Vegas to report on a motorcycle race and ended up writing a story about himself writing a story about a motorcycle race. If he would have written a conventional report on motorcycle racing it would have been interesting to motorcycle enthusiasts for a few days. Since he wrote a gonzo story he had a very wide canvas and he used it well to create a classic.

The reader might be turned off by the obstreperous behavior, extreme self indulgence and offensive inconsiderate language. If you can look past this offensive conduct and you will see that Hunter Thompson gave us an insight into the American character of the 1970's.

See also: Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga (Modern Library)

I completely enjoyed this book and recommend it to others.

No one does it like Dr. HST, may he RIP.

The savage pursuit of the American Dream . . . aaaaaaah love it!

This is a generational classic far superior to Catcher in the Rye, On the Road, Less than Zero . . . you name it.

It will change your life, even if it's "too late."

Live the dream, HST style.

Thanks for the amazing service. I greatly appreciate the prompt delivery.

db

As everyone knows the story, the five stars I rated it are for Ralph Steadman's drawings. I've always loved the original illustrations, so it was with some trepidation that I got this book. But I love Mr. Steadman's other work, so I held out hope that this was just as good. And they are - they go great with the story - and manage to be both whimsical and creepy at the same time. I love it. the only thing that I don't like about the book is that it isn't longer - unlike a lot of versions of Alice in Wonderland this one does NOT also include Through the Looking Glass. But it's still great.

Steadman does an amazing job, and this version is worth it for those images alone.

The book was delivered as promised and in good condition. My friend loved the book. Thanks.

What a classic! Everyone knows the story of Alice in Wonderland, made even more popular by Disney years ago. All I knew of Alice was the Disney cartoon and the artwork of Tenniel and Rackham. What I didn't know was the brilliant writing style of Lewis Carroll, the author who created Alice and her Wonderland.

Carroll is one of the most clever writers I have read. I kept thinking to myself as I read this book, "how the hell did he come up with this?" The dialogue is pure genius. I loved every minute of the Mad Hatter and his tea party.

The story is very short and without much of a plot, but that is what can be expected of a dream. It's sort of just a walk down the rabbit hole and through wonderland. But in that walk, we meet fascinating creatures; creatures and objects present in the real world, but with a fantastical twist.

What I loved more than anything was the book itself. I got a beautiful edition of this book through Dreamhaven, published by Firefly. It was a $30 on sale for $7.95. It's hardcover, clothbound, with thick, high quality paper and illustrations that I've never seen before for Alice.

The illustrations are done by Ralph Steadman. His work looked familiar and I found out that he is the artist from Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. I didn't know what to think of the images at first, but I liked them by the end. They are definitely geared towards a more adult audience, but then again, I forget what it's like to be a kid. He adds a certain edge to the characters. The characters become menacing and bizarre. He gives a great introduction in the book and explains why he drew each one of the images the way he did.

A short but wonderful story of finding real treasure!!! The biggest find of Roman Silver ever in the UK. However it is the 'human' element within this story that makes it so thrilling. Greed does terrible things to us all.....
This is a great story for kids but I was 28 when I first read it. I have remembered it so vividly for all these years ( I am now in my 40's..) I just had to buy a copy to keep for myself. If you love archaeology and can imagine the thrill of finding something truely gobsmackingly amazing... this is a great read!

I've read this book snd LOVED it. It's about a worker on a rich mans farm who finds something hard in the ground and it turns out to be TREASER! The man forgets about it after digging it up and a year later his boss (the man who kept the treaser) was cought by one of his freinds. The man who found it becomes rich and is poor no more.
This true story can show that any ordinary person can find a treaser.

One might argue that this book about the greatest treasure ever found in the British Isles is itself a rare find. Roald Dahl was able to interview Gordon Butcher, the man who originally found the Roman silver on his land, no small feat since Butcher had become suspicious of writers and journalists after being cheated out of a fortune that should have been his. The account, mostly in Butcher's own words, of the discovery is absolutely entrancing and Dahl has the wisdom to keep the story tight and lean, while preserving the details about Butcher and that memorable day when his life changed forever.
I have had a hard time finding true historical accounts which I can share with my entire family and which will hold the interest of both children and adults. With pictures on nearly every page (by the inimitable Ralph Steadman) and vivid writing which makes history come alive, this one fits the bill.

The easy reading style of Dahl is at its best in the Mildenhall treasure, when fast development mixed with a human element are concerned. He allows the user to empathise with characters and feel the disapointment not only of the good but also those of more dubious character. He gives an insight into peoples lives which should not be possible in such a short space. A very good read, to see the darker side of human character and the way in which naivity is often ruthlessly exploited, however despite this the book is kept light and readable with vivid images and interesting content, a worthwhile read.

"Journey Around an Extraordinary Planet" left me with a burning desire to explore, to dig deeper. We follow Joe Madison on his travels deep into Africa and Asia, and ever deeper into his own consciousness. The author's grasp of history and internal work come through loud and clear, leaving hints of trails to be explored. The writing itself is poetic and vivid. The book wakes you up and leaves you wanting more. This is a great book.

"Journey Around an Extraordinary Planet" left me with a burning desire to explore, to dig deeper. We follow Joe Madison on his travels deep into Africa and Asia, and ever deeper into his own consciousness. The author's grasp of history and internal work come through loud and clear, leaving hints of trails to be explored. The writing itself is poetic and vivid. The book wakes you up and leaves you wanting more. This is a great book.

"Journey Around an Extraordinary Planet" left me with a burning desire to explore, to dig deeper. We follow Joe Madison on his travels deep into Africa and Asia, and ever deeper into his own consciousness. The author's grasp of history and internal work come through loud and clear, leaving hints of trails to be explored. The writing itself is poetic and vivid. The book wakes you up and leaves you wanting more. This is a great book.

"Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream" by Hunter S. Thompson

Hunter Thompson practiced total immersion journalism. This form of reporting is called gonzo journalism.

Hunter Thompson drove to Las Vegas to report on a motorcycle race and ended up writing a story about himself writing a story about a motorcycle race. If he would have written a conventional report on motorcycle racing it would have been interesting to motorcycle enthusiasts for a few days. Since he wrote a gonzo story he had a very wide canvas and he used it well to create a classic.

The reader might be turned off by the obstreperous behavior, extreme self indulgence and offensive inconsiderate language. If you can look past this offensive conduct and you will see that Hunter Thompson gave us an insight into the American character of the 1970's.

See also: Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga (Modern Library)

I completely enjoyed this book and recommend it to others.

That so many people have tried to justify, make sense of and interpret Thompson's pseudo-fiction in literal terms only indicates how many asinine, clueless people have read this magnificently absurd book. All that's required when reading HST's drug-addled interpretation of his misadventures with Acosta is to simply ingest, and to set your inhibitive sense of reality aside while doing so.

In his correspondence, literature and journalism, HST ably explains how he rode the crest, slope and break of the most exciting, disheveled period in the history of American culture. His written discourse is invaluable for obtaining a clear understanding of a muddled and dynamic era, where dysfunction of many varieties constituted the norm and both the freedom afforded by a permissive society and its' technological advances were exploited for enormous personal gain. In a time when America is descending into a sanitized quagmire of mediocrity and sedation, we could only hope for so much.

This is the pentultament source for the history and intrigue of scotch...who is "doing" who and how does scotch go from hops, water, and copper pot to the necture of the gods - this is the ultimate source book...And it is written with a sense of irony and humor. Buy this book...if you love scotch you will adore this book.

Being a fan of single malt whiskies myself, I really appreciate his knowledge, at the same time that I am taken by his whimsical humour.(I am Canajian,eh?) His illustrations are outstanding, and he is a truly inspired watercolourist.

A man with an amazing eye and attention to detail. If you don't know who Winston Smith is, he is an amazing collage artist who juxtaposes various images from 40's/50's magazines. A great commentator in the visual form, his prints have a great take on pop culture. In case you don't know who he is, Winston Smith has been involved the punk rock art community since the late-70's with partner in crime, Jello Biafra. He's done ALL sorts of flyers, album covers, clothing designs, logos, EVERYTHING. If you know who he is, you'll know what's in the book, great art.

Ralph Steadman was the perfect artist to accompany the crazy, drug-addled travel writing of Hunter S. Thompson. Even though Steadman is not a serious user of hallucinogenics, his art can be very deceiving otherwise. A real gem of an art book.