Description
Book SynopsisNominated for the National Book Critics Circle Award
In this long-awaited and candid memoir, Hitchens re-traces the footsteps of his life to date, from his childhood in Portsmouth, with his adoring, tragic mother and reserved Naval officer father; to his life in Washington DC, the base from which from he would launch fierce attacks on tyranny of all kinds. Along the way, he recalls the girls, boys and booze; the friendships and the feuds; the grand struggles and lost causes; and the mistakes and misgivings that have characterised his life.
Hitch-22 is, by turns, moving and funny, charming and infuriating, enraging and inspiring. It is an indispensable companion to the life and thought of our pre-eminent political writer.
Trade ReviewIf Hitchens didn't exist, we wouldn't be able to invent him. * Ian McEwan *
Christopher Hitchens is one of the great conversationalists of our age and his wit, style and erudition are brilliantly deployed in this glittering autobiography. Hitch-22 sparkles with funny stories, treasurable quotations, witty apercus and deft descriptions. * Sunday Times *
A pert yet elegantly written memoir. * Sunday Telegraph *
A fascinating account of the influences - political, cultural and philosophical - on Hitchens's intellectual development... A funny, sad, incisive, and serious narrative... He is our son and one of our most gifted writers. We should take pride in that and be busting our guts to get him back. * Spectator *
Table of Contents1: Yvonne 2: The Commander 3: Fragments from an Education 4: Cambridge 5: The Sixties: Revolution in the Revolution 6: Chris or Christopher? 7: The Fenton Factor 8: Martin 9: Portugal to Poland 10: A Second Identity: On Becoming an (Anglo) American 11: Changing Places 12: Salman 13: Mesopotamia from Both Sides 14: Something of Myself 15: Thinking Thrice about the Jewish Question. 16: Edward Said in Light and Shade (and Saul) 17: Decline, Mutation, or Metamorphosis?
