Christopher Eric Hitchens was a prominent British author, journalist, educator, and public intellectual, recognized for his articulate and contentious critiques across a broad spectrum of social, political, and religious topics. Graduating from Oxford in the 1970s with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, Hitchens's career spanned several decades during which he authored 18 books and contributed to numerous publications such as The Nation, Vanity Fair, The Atlantic, London Review of Books, The Times Literary Supplement, Slate, and many more.

Known as one of the "four horsemen" of New Atheism, alongside figures such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and Daniel Dennett, Hitchens was a vocal critic of religion, advocating for secularism and the scientific method as superior moral guides. His epistemological stance, famously encapsulated in the assertion that "what can be asserted without evidence can also be dismissed without evidence," remains influential in philosophical and legal circles.

Hitchens's political views were complex and evolved significantly over his lifetime. Initially identifying as a democratic socialist, he later expressed support for certain U.S. foreign policies, including the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, while maintaining critical stances towards others. Despite these shifts, he consistently emphasized the importance of free expression, scientific discovery, and the separation of church and state.

Controversial and widely debated, Hitchens's works include critical biographies of notable figures such as Mother Teresa, President Bill Clinton, and Henry Kissinger, showcasing his prowess as a polemicist. He also authored God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, a best-seller that further cemented his reputation as an anti-theist.

Hitchens passed away in December 2011, leaving behind a legacy as a formidable thinker and writer whose contributions continue to provoke thought and discussion.