Eh, maybe. I’m a fan and the quote I had not attributed to him. After researching, it is found in a plain letter written to a friend about finishing the Rum Diaries. It reads:
“ The RD [Rum Diary] is almost there. I can hardly believe it, but feel certain it will never be published. No matter. Just to finish the bastard is enough. I now plan to take off around Apr. 1 & may be king of S.A. by the time you return…I might pawn you my rifle…”
But what is unusual to me are the several highly racial slurs found in the same letter, outside of that it has little importance. Why this letter would be significant, I would not know, even as a fan. I appreciate Thompson but even this letter is something I would rather ignore as I don’t like to see Thompson in a racial light.