The sad news hit the wires, the mainstream, the social sites, and blogs late last night as Vanity Fair announced the death of Christopher Hitchens at the age of 62. Though it was not always easy to agree with "Hitch", his gift for writing essays, books, and whatever else came from his mind was staggering in its depth of knowledge and was of an eloquent style rarely seen today. Always in the moment and never at a loss for the perfect word, Christopher Hitchens surely will be remembered as one of the top essayists of my lifetime.
Tributes abound today, and his Vanity Fair editor, Graydon Carter, provides a touching remembrance of his friend and colleague: http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/christopher-hitchens/graydon-201112#pluck-comments
I'm not sure what Mr. Hitchens would have said about genealogy, and I'm not sure that he had ever had reason to comment on it, so it may seem odd that his death is the subject here. But I enjoyed every word he wrote, knowing full well that he used every word purposefully and passionately, each bit of verbiage thoughtfully included as if to choosing or omitting a word or phrase might destroy an entire work. If only all writers could capture the reader like Hitch did. If only.
Thank you, Hitch, for sharing your gift. I'll be sipping a scotch later just for you.
I just recently subscribed to your site in my RSS reader, because I love your writing style. You're saucy! I was also saddened by the news of Hitch's death, although we pretty much expected it. I can't drink alcohol, so take an extra sip for me in his honor!
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