Hyperbole is a literary device that involves deliberate exaggeration or overstatement to emphasize a point, evoke strong feelings, or create dramatic effect. It is not meant to be taken literally but is used to express the intensity of a situation or emotion. Hyperbole is a cornerstone of Hunter S. Thompson’s writing style and Gonzo journalism. His prose is filled with wild accusations (of drug use and criminality, for example) that are completely unfounded but gesture toward some deeper truth. When he accuses Ed Muskie of being addicted to Ibogaine, for example, he is using hyperbole to illustrate the doomed nature of Muskie’s demeanor, hinting at the seemingly artificial energy that is keeping the floundering campaign afloat. Hyperbole in Thompson’s writing enhances storytelling by making descriptions more vivid, humorous, or emotionally impactful. Whether he is threatening Frank Mankiewicz or writing threatening letters to his colleagues, Thompson’s writing is filled with dramatic exaggerations to emphasize his points.

Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ’72 is a series of Thompson’s essays published during the 1972 presidential election. Thompson submitted regular articles (when he met his deadline), moving around the linear election timeline by using various structural devices, including flashback.