The book was published in May 2010 by Atlantic Books in the UK and June 2011 by Twelve, an imprint of Hachette Book Group USA, and was later nominated for a National Book Critics Circle Award. The planned worldwide tour for the book was cut short later the same month during the American leg so that the author could begin treatment for newly diagnosed esophageal cancer.[1] Through the book's publisher and in the magazine for which he was a regular contributing editor, Vanity Fair, Hitchens announced: 'I regret having had to cancel so many engagements at such short notice.'[2]
Hitchens initially found the book hard to write: 'I found it fantastically difficult. Normally, when I'm writing, I'm making an argument, making a case. Also, when I'm writing, I'm trying to see how much I can pack into 5,000 words about a subject. But here's a subject I know too much about.' But he eventually produced a manuscript that was twice the length of the version finally published.[3]
Hitchens used his memoir to discuss several incidents that were later picked up by reviewers and the media as notable for their revelatory nature: as a contemporary at Oxford University of the then-student Bill Clinton (who later became the American President), he knew that Clinton's later avowal that 'I did not inhale' in regard to marijuana was based on Clinton's allergy to smoke; but Hitchens also states that Clinton's consumption was via 'cookies and brownies';[4] that during the writing of Martin Amis's novel, Money, Hitchens and Amis visited a New York brothel so that Amis could research the experience; [4] that during an encounter at a party with the then British Leader of the Opposition, Margaret Thatcher, she proceeded to 'spank Hitchens directly on the buttocks' and call him a 'Naughty boy!'[4]
New foreword
The paperback edition of the book, published in 2011, featured a new foreword by Hitchens which mentions his newly diagnosed cancer: "I suffer from Stage Four oesophageal cancer," he writes. "There is no Stage Five." And "I hope it will not seem presumptuous to assume that anybody likely to have got as far as acquiring this paperback edition of my memoir will know that it was written by someone who, without appreciating it at the time, had become seriously and perhaps mortally ill... When the book was published, I had just turned sixty-one. I am writing this at a moment when, according to my doctors, I cannot be certain of celebrating another birthday."[5][6]
Critical reception
Comments from critic Dwight Garner's article in The New York Times Book Review are quoted on the back cover. "Electric and electrifying... He has a mind like a Swiss Army knife, ready to carve up or unbolt an opponent's arguments with a flick of the wrist."[7] and "It is a fascinating, funny, sad, incisive, and serious narrative...' by Alexander Waugh of The Spectator.[8]
Hitchens died of esophageal cancer in 2011, aged 62. His autobiography received positive reviews, and some critics felt his prose was impressive and wit was incisive.
References
^Peters, Jeremy. "Christopher Hitchens to Begin Cancer Treatment", The New York Times, 30 June 2010.
^Books (2010-07-01). "Book tour halted, The Telegraph". London: Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
^Hillel Italie (2010-06-14). "'Christopher Hitchens On 'Hitch-22': Memoir Was "Fantastically Difficult" To Write'". HuffPost. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
^ abcPine, Gideon (2010-06-08). "'Hitch-22': 6 Juicy Celebrity Bites From Christopher Hitchens's New Memoir (PHOTOS, POLL)". HuffPost. Retrieved 2020-06-22.
^Garner, Dwight (2020-06-22). "In Memoir, Christopher Hitchens Looks Back". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
^. Spectator.co.uk. 2010-06-05. Archived from the original on 2010-06-08. Retrieved 2012-04-14.
External links
Book preview at Barnes & Noble
Interview with Hitchens on Hitch-22, May 27, 2010, C-SPAN
January 30, 2023
hitch, memoir, memoir, written, author, journalist, christopher, hitchens, authorchristopher, hitchenscountryunited, stateslanguageenglishsubjectautobiographypublishertwelve, books, atlantic, books, publication, date20, 2010, june, 2011media, typehardcover, pa. Hitch 22 A Memoir is a memoir written by author and journalist Christopher Hitchens Hitch 22AuthorChristopher HitchensCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishSubjectAutobiographyPublisherTwelve Books Atlantic Books UK Publication date20 May 2010 UK June 2 2011Media typeHardcover paperback audiobookPages448 inc 24 pages of photographs ISBN978 0 446 54033 9OCLC464590644Dewey Decimal920 073LC ClassCT275 H62575 A3 2010 The book was published in May 2010 by Atlantic Books in the UK and June 2011 by Twelve an imprint of Hachette Book Group USA and was later nominated for a National Book Critics Circle Award The planned worldwide tour for the book was cut short later the same month during the American leg so that the author could begin treatment for newly diagnosed esophageal cancer 1 Through the book s publisher and in the magazine for which he was a regular contributing editor Vanity Fair Hitchens announced I regret having had to cancel so many engagements at such short notice 2 Contents 1 Description 2 New foreword 3 Critical reception 4 References 5 External linksDescription EditHitchens initially found the book hard to write I found it fantastically difficult Normally when I m writing I m making an argument making a case Also when I m writing I m trying to see how much I can pack into 5 000 words about a subject But here s a subject I know too much about But he eventually produced a manuscript that was twice the length of the version finally published 3 Hitchens used his memoir to discuss several incidents that were later picked up by reviewers and the media as notable for their revelatory nature as a contemporary at Oxford University of the then student Bill Clinton who later became the American President he knew that Clinton s later avowal that I did not inhale in regard to marijuana was based on Clinton s allergy to smoke but Hitchens also states that Clinton s consumption was via cookies and brownies 4 that during the writing of Martin Amis s novel Money Hitchens and Amis visited a New York brothel so that Amis could research the experience 4 that during an encounter at a party with the then British Leader of the Opposition Margaret Thatcher she proceeded to spank Hitchens directly on the buttocks and call him a Naughty boy 4 New foreword EditThe paperback edition of the book published in 2011 featured a new foreword by Hitchens which mentions his newly diagnosed cancer I suffer from Stage Four oesophageal cancer he writes There is no Stage Five And I hope it will not seem presumptuous to assume that anybody likely to have got as far as acquiring this paperback edition of my memoir will know that it was written by someone who without appreciating it at the time had become seriously and perhaps mortally ill When the book was published I had just turned sixty one I am writing this at a moment when according to my doctors I cannot be certain of celebrating another birthday 5 6 Critical reception EditComments from critic Dwight Garner s article in The New York Times Book Review are quoted on the back cover Electric and electrifying He has a mind like a Swiss Army knife ready to carve up or unbolt an opponent s arguments with a flick of the wrist 7 and It is a fascinating funny sad incisive and serious narrative by Alexander Waugh of The Spectator 8 Hitchens died of esophageal cancer in 2011 aged 62 His autobiography received positive reviews and some critics felt his prose was impressive and wit was incisive References Edit Peters Jeremy Christopher Hitchens to Begin Cancer Treatment The New York Times 30 June 2010 Books 2010 07 01 Book tour halted The Telegraph London Telegraph co uk Retrieved 2012 04 14 Hillel Italie 2010 06 14 Christopher Hitchens On Hitch 22 Memoir Was Fantastically Difficult To Write HuffPost Retrieved 2012 04 14 a b c Pine Gideon 2010 06 08 Hitch 22 6 Juicy Celebrity Bites From Christopher Hitchens s New Memoir PHOTOS POLL HuffPost Retrieved 2020 06 22 Book preview foreword Barnesandnoble com Retrieved 2012 04 14 Nicholas Lezard 2011 04 23 review London Guardian Retrieved 2012 04 14 Garner Dwight 2020 06 22 In Memoir Christopher Hitchens Looks Back New York Times Retrieved 2012 04 14 Spectator review Spectator co uk 2010 06 05 Archived from the original on 2010 06 08 Retrieved 2012 04 14 External links EditBook preview at Barnes amp Noble Interview with Hitchens on Hitch 22 May 27 2010 C SPAN Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hitch 22 amp oldid 1120191671, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
