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Hunter S. Thompson Found Dead at His Home

Hunter S. Thompson on the cover of his 2003 book <i>Kingdom of Fear</i>.
Hunter S. Thompson on the cover of his 2003 book Kingdom of Fear.

The counter-culture author Hunter Thompson, who popularized a new form of personalized journalism, has died at 67 in what investigators believe to be a suicide. Thompson wrote the 1972 classic, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, the tale of a drug-abusing journalist and his lawyer visiting a motocross race.

With writers like Tom Wolfe and Gay Talese, Thompson was known for a new style of journalism, full of wide-ranging impressions and the author's personality. In his case, that personality drew fans and outrage, as Thompson's "gonzo journalism" recounted his drug use and a range of unconventional ideas.

Thompson was found dead Sunday in his home near Aspen, Colo., of an apparently self-inflicted gunshot wound.

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Loren Jenkins
Loren Jenkins brings over 30 years of experience to his post as the senior editor of NPR's foreign desk.
Steve Inskeep is a host of NPR's Morning Edition, as well as NPR's morning news podcast Up First.