Hunter S. Thompson’s “The Curse of Lono” Reissued
Thompson’s most eccentric book is back in print with pages of characteristic Ralph Steadman illustrations
After nearly a decade out of print, Hunter S. Thompson and Ralph Steadman’s “The Curse of Lono” is again back on the shelves. Originally published in 1983 and heralded as the devilish duo’s most eccentric piece of work, the book follows the two—alongside a cast of equally unsightly characters—through Hawaii for the 1980 Honolulu Marathon. What was meant to be “a good chance for a vacation,” as the editor of Running magazine suspected, quickly turned into a pleasurable opportunity of pure insanity. In characteristic gonzo style, marathon coverage is interwoven with bizarre and surreal tales, and what happens afterward largely unclassifiable.
The hardback re-edition is filled with exciting and unnerving illustrations from Steadman, making Thompson’s words paint even brighter mental pictures. Find the book online from Taschen for $30—which seems all the more reasonable when considering the first edition was sold for $300.
Photos by Graham Hiemstra
