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Journalist delivers ‘compellingly odd memoir’

Journalist Christopher Hitchens is shown at the College of William & Mary, during a 1960s-style 'teach-in,' Thursday, Feb. 8, 2001, in Williamsburg, Va., held to protest former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger's installation as the college's chancellor. Hitchens was one of the event's speakers. Hitchens' article in this month's issue of Harper's magazine accuses Kissinger of being a war criminal.

BILL TIERNAN Journalist Christopher Hitchens is shown at the College of William & Mary, during a 1960s-style 'teach-in,' Thursday, Feb. 8, 2001, in Williamsburg, Va., held to protest former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger's installation as the college's chancellor. Hitchens was one of the event's speakers. Hitchens' article in this month's issue of Harper's magazine accuses Kissinger of being a war criminal.

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By Vick Mickunas, Contributing Writer 1:07 AM Sunday, June 13, 2010

“Hitch-22,” by Christopher Hitchens (Twelve, 435 pages, $26.99)

Christopher Hitchens is a journalist who has spent the last 40 years wandering the planet. He writes on a wide spectrum of subjects across politics, religion, and literature. And, over time, his political beliefs have shifted from socialism to neo-conservatism.

As a college student in his native England, he got arrested numerous times for participating in left-wing protests. Today, Hitchens is based in Washington, D.C., and he is now an American citizen.

As he has aged, his politics may have shifted toward conservatism, but even so, his stands are unpredictable. Last week, he told an interviewer for the New York Times: “I consider myself a very conservative Marxist.”

The author of numerous books, in 2008 he published “God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything.” Hitchens is an atheist and this manifesto detailing his beliefs, or lack thereof, became a huge best-seller. Now Hitchens, who recently turned 60, has published a memoir, “Hitch-22.”

Hitchens has some strong opinions, and he isn’t reluctant to share them. His memoir makes for some scintillating reading.

In “Hitch-22,” he describes his childhood. He was sent off to boarding school at the tender age of 8. In school, he found a passion for books and the knowledge contained within them.

This memoir is jammed with his favorite quotations and literary references. His vocabulary is immense. His intellect is piercing. He showers admiration upon his lifelong friends. The long list of people he scorns he justifies and updates: Henry Kissinger, Mother Teresa and Bill Clinton, just to name a few.

This is a compellingly odd memoir. Hitchens is candid about his bisexual past. He describes how he learned that his mother had concealed their Jewish ancestry from him. The author went to Poland to attempt to trace his Jewish lineage.

Hitchens has achieved a certain notoriety for his fondness for intoxicating beverages. He talks about that. His wives and his children are barely mentioned. This reviewer was left to wonder; is he shielding them? Or, are they just not essential to his story? He does admit that he was an absentee father to his children.

As he details the evolution of his political views we are treated to a panorama of history from unique vantage points just beyond the range of sniper fire. Hitchens tries to visit international danger zones on an annual basis. “Hitch-22” offers a whirlwind tour of war zones and totalitarian states: Cuba, Northern Ireland, Sarajevo, Iran, Iraq, Kurdistan, Afghanistan and Israel.

While he seemingly knows everybody worth knowing, he doesn’t come off as a name dropper. Despite his incredibly conceited, know-it-all attitude, he is highly informative. Even when he is spouting ridiculous notions, he can be thoroughly engaging.

“Hitch-22” moves along briskly. It only bogs down momentarily when Hitchens gets a bit contorted while trying to justify the Iraq invasion. He does pass along some choice nuggets of wisdom. Here’s my favorite: “Never ask while you are doing it if what you are doing is fun.”

Contact book reviewer Vick Mickunas at vick@vickmickunas.com.

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