Wow. Why Hitchens won’t be in Palo Alto.
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010
Christopher Hitchens
Back when Ayaan Hirsi Ali was visiting Palo Alto courtesy the Commonwealth Club, I mentioned Christopher Hitchens was to appear next on June 27. He was plugging his new memoir, Hitch 22.
A few days ago, I received an email that his appearance was “postponed until further notice.” I wondered what the story was.
It’s this: Hitchens has esophageal cancer. From Vanity Fair:
“I have been advised by my physician that I must undergo a course of chemotherapy on my esophagus. This advice seems persuasive to me. I regret having had to cancel so many engagements at such short notice.”
This is one of the nastier and more aggressive cancers.
Whatever one’s opinions of him, his books, his journalism — wish him well. (I was about to say Godspeed — a thought he would hardly have encouraged.)
