In Memoriam: Christopher Hitchens, 1949-2011 Christopher Hitchens, notable author, journalist and atheist, passed away on December 15 at the age of 62 after suffering a long battle with cancer. He passed in the company of friends. Born in Portsmouth England, he went on to study at Oxford University in 1970. He began his career as a journalist in England writing for a number of publications. Later he moved to New York and became the contributing editor to Vanity Fair. Throughout his career Hitchens’ deeply thoughtful, powerful prose solidified him as a celebrated literary force. His 2007 book entitled God Is Not Great made him a literary star in the United States. He maintained his devout attitude towards religion after being diagnosed with cancer, telling one interviewer: “No evidence or argument has yet been presented which would change my mind.” When Hitchens read a premature announcement of his own death he quipped: “Nothing concentrates the mind more than reading about oneself in the past tense.” We encourage you to take a few moments to watch this recent interview with Hitchens in his home in Washington D.C with Jeremy Paxman for a BBC Newsnight Special: Part 1 of 2 Christopher Hitchens, April 13, 1949 – December 15, 2011