download the proud highway saga of a desperate southern gentleman

'So, faced with a choice of paying a minimum of $25 for falling off a motor scooter on a public road, and fleeing the state to avoid prosecution, I chose to leave the state. By November 9, I shall be well out of the state of New Jersey, but I don't want to leave without explaining my position.'

Municipal Court Magistrate, Town Hall, West Milford, NJ November 6, 1959:Įarlier today I was given a summons to appear before your court on November 9, on a charge of 'leaving the scene of an accident.' I shall have to decline this appearance, and I hope this letter will explain why. I've read a couple of biographies on HST but this gives a much more in- depth understanding and altogether more complete idea not only of the man in question, but also the workings of the world of journalism and the general political state of the world at the time (which remains depressingly similar to the present).įor me the book started off as a bit of a slog but as progresses it builds into a compelling structure of HST's inner workings thats well worth the ride. The book is well edited with notes between the correspondences regarding the situations at hand and information on the characters involved. However on picking the book up again recently in a more open and mature state of mind I found it to be a thoroughly good insight into the mans character and sometimes dire (mostly self-inflicated) situations he faced as a young man learning his trade.

I guess I was wanting drug addled ranting at the time which is not really what this book is made of. I started reading this four or five years ago, got about a fifth of the way through it and put it on the shelf.

Download the proud highway saga of a desperate southern gentleman