The Joke's Over (2006) is Ralph Steadman's tribute to the writer Hunter S. Thompson, his friend who committed suicide in 2005. Thompson, the founder of gonzo journalism, leads his illustrator friend through a series of ill-advised adventures often involving drugs, alcohol, and guns. Steadman eventually finds a more sustainable path for himself, continuing to illustrate Thompson's American pieces from his studio in England. Steadman's memoir is surprisingly articulate, and the book is ultimately a funny and moving recollection of an engaging if pathologically unstable character.
Note: An event in the 2006 publicity tour for The Joke's Over seems to be where Mr. Steadman personalized each of the books for Stephen Parr that have been shown on the blog these past two weeks. Attempted Bloggery welcomes photos or scans of other signed Steadman books, particularly those with original drawings or sketches.
 |
| Ralph Steadman, The Joke's Over, 2006 |
 |
| Inscribed "For Stephen Parr/Ralph Steadman 2006" with a drawing of a cartoon face |
"A Retrospective: Ralph Steadman" is now on view at the Society of Illustrators in New York through October 22. It's no joke.
Attempted Bloggery's quick links:
Ralph Steadman
Hunter S. Thompson
Books Signed to Stephen Parr by Ralph Steadman
All Signed Books with Original Drawings
Hunter S. Thompson
Books Signed to Stephen Parr by Ralph Steadman
All Signed Books with Original Drawings
01973
No comments:
Post a Comment