New From NYU Press: Christopher Hitchens and His Critics: Terror, Iraq, and the Left
Edited by Simon Cottee and Thomas Cushman
Christopher Hitchens—political journalist, cultural critic, public intellectual, and self-described “contrarian”—is one of the most controversial and prolific writers of his generation. Like his hero George Orwell, Hitchens is a tireless opponent of all forms of cruelty, ideological dogma, religious superstition, and intellectual foible. Once a socialist, he now calls himself an “unaffiliated radical.” As a thinker, he is perhaps best viewed as “post-ideological,” in that his intellectual sources and solidarities are strikingly diverse— he is an admirer of both Leon Trotsky and Kingsley Amis.
The global turmoil of the recent past has provoked intense dispute and division among intellectuals, academics, and other commentators. Hitchens’ writing during this time, particularly after 9/11, is an essential reference point for understanding the genesis and meaning of that turmoil and the challenges that accompany it. This book brings together Hitchens’ most incisive reflections on the “war on terror,” the war in Iraq, and the state of the contemporary “left.” It also includes a selection of critical commentaries on his work from his former leftist comrades, a set of exchanges between Hitchens and various left-leaning interlocutors such as Noam Chomsky, Studs Terkel, and Katha Pollitt, and an introductory essay by the editors on the significance of Hitchens’ contributions to the world of ideas.
For information on this book and others published by NYU Press, visit www.nyupress.org.
