Hitchens has cancer of the throat

[faceless]

Christopher Hitchens diagnosed with cancer
Polemicist cancels book tour promoting autobiography and will undergo chemotherapy
Owen Bowcott
The Guardian,
1 July 2010

The author and polemicist Christopher Hitchens yesterday announced he was cutting short a promotional book tour in order to undergo chemotherapy treatment. There were reports that the the British-born writer, who was a heavy smoker until giving up several years ago, had been diagnosed with cancer.

In a statement issued by his US publisher, Twelve, the 61-year-old said: "I have been advised by my physician that I must undergo a course of chemotherapy on my oesophagus. This advice seems persuasive to me. I regret having had to cancel so many engagements at such short notice."

The firm gave no further details other than asking for his privacy to be respected. Hitchens launched a high profile book tour last month to promote his memoir Hitch-22, which tackles subjects ranging from the Middle East and Zimbabwe to his friendships with prominent writers including Salman Rushdie and Martin Amis. The volume has already entered the bestseller lists.

Hitchens has in the past described himself as "an essayist and a contrarian". As a journalist, critic and war correspondent, he has carved out a reputation for barbed repartee, scathing critiques of public figures and a fierce intelligence. In his 2008 book "God Is Not Great", Hitchens put himself on a collision course with major religions through his advocacy of atheism. He lives in Washington DC and became an American citizen in 2007, although also retains British citizenship. Hitchens appeared at the Guardian Hay Festival this summer.

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I'd make a pun about him being speechless, but that would be in very bad taste. Still, not in as bad taste as supporting illegal wars.

[mickyv]

His "“If they gave him an enema he could have been buried in a matchbox.” remark on hearing the news of Jerry Falwell's death, was a disgusting & cheap insult of the recently deceased, callously made in order to sound witty, but perhaps he will discover in a bad karma like way, and by the sound of things, sooner rather than later, the error of his other comment on the same person, " "I think it's a pity there isn't a hell for him to go to" !

[faceless]

Jeremy Paxman meets Christopher Hitchens - Newsnight - 2010-11-29
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