Quote
Christopher Hitchens, by common consent the greatest man of the last century and probably in the entire history of the world, has just died. But this fact has been shamefully ignored by the Guardian. So far I have only found half the front page, a double-page news spread, a cartoon, a leader, a full-page obituary and half Simon Hoggart's column. Where are your priorities? Can I look forward to a special supplement soon?
Linda Evans
Chiswick, London
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/dec/18/reflections-death-christopher-hitchens
I just heard, via @GarryShandling of all places.
He had quite a way with the language, as creative and sharp a wit as Carlin at his best, and his dry wit often reminding me of Douglas Adams...
QuoteIn the summer of 2010, during a promotional tour for Hitch-22, he was diagnosed with terminal oesophageal cancer, a disease that had killed his father at a much more advanced age. He inhabited "Tumourville", as he called it, with rueful wit and little self-pity. "In whatever kind of a 'race' life may be," he wrote, "I have abruptly become a finalist."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/dec/16/christopher-hitchens-obituary
Agree or disagree with him, love him or hate him, this "constitutionally incapable of writing average sentences (http://www.guardian.co.uk/theobserver/2001/dec/16/society)" icon was certainly a catalyst for discussion on challenging subjects. One of the best regular guests on Bill Maher's shows, and in Youtube clips of debates with fundies (not just religious fundies, but political ones as well).
And even in just the written word, engaging (http://www.slate.com/authors.christopher_hitchens.html) at the very least, and often infuriatingly arrogant (and rarely boring).
Oddly I heard about it through Slashdot comments... another legend gone