Hitchens responds to critics

Dennis dperrin13 at mediaone.net
Tue Sep 25 11:39:26 PDT 2001



> Since you mentioned it, I sometimes wonder if much of Hitchens' famed
> iconoclasm is just boozy cantankerousness. Frankly, I think it's a waste
of
> time for the list to spend so much energy micro-scrutinizing his writings
> and motivations -- an activity which, of course, I am contributing to by
> posting this. Why don't we just let Hitchens' liver rot in peace?
>
> Carl

Hitch can drink. I mean DRINK. I've gotten drunk with him many times, though I don't know how drunk he was. Me, I was seeing double.

Once, while staying in his DC apartment, I saw him take a full bottle of red wine into his study. He closed the door and for roughly two hours I heard constant typing. Then he emerged to fax the piece to London, the bottle empty and a new one freshly opened. He smiled at me and asked, "Drink, dear boy?"

I tend to agree with Carl on this. But I am sad. Hitch was a mentor to me. He took me under his wing when I was new to political writing and speaking and taught me much. He is extremely intelligent and generous, and is perhaps the best speaker and debater I've ever seen. Now, alas, it seems he's gone off the rails, and I don't know why (though I have my guesses). Given his latest blast, I have no desire to approach him and engage him. I don't think he's really in the mood for reflective, contrary inquiry, and I suppose that's why I'm venting here.

DP



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