Christopher Hitchens has passed away at the age of 62. Diagnosed with esophageal cancer in 2010, Hitchens finally succumbed to pneumonia, a complication of his cancer, on 15 December 2011, at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
During his lifetime, Christopher Hitchens achieved worldwide recognition as an acclaimed author, journalist, literary critic, New Atheist and vocal champion of the philosophical values of the Enlightenment. He was also a brilliant debater, and I always enjoyed watching his public performances online. Although I never had the pleasure of meeting him, I will miss him. Hitchens’ passion, uncompromising honesty and sense of humor put him in a class of his own.
An outspoken critic of religion, Hitchens was nonetheless gracious towards those who prayed for him during his final illness. People are complicated creatures, and we will never know what Hitchens’ final thoughts were. But we can dare to hope. So I will bid adieu to Christopher Hitchens with the words that Horatio addressed to Hamlet on his passing:
Now cracks a noble heart. Good-night, sweet prince:
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!
(Update: Over on www.evolutionnews.org, David Berlinski has penned a beautiful tribute to Christopher Hitchens.)