A sad foray into the Spectator archives today, as we mark the death of Christopher
Hitchens. He was, of course, linked with many publications: The New Statesman, The Nation, Vanity Fair — and with The Spectator too. We we all pleased to discover that he wrote so warmly of us in his recent memoirs:
‘…Alexander Chancellor, editor of The Spectator, gave me a call. His correspondent in Washington, and otherwise lovely man, was also having trouble taking the thing seriously and was filing copy that was “frankly a bit ‘flip’”. Would I mind surging down to the capital and seeing if I could hold the fort for a while? I didn’t hesitate. Never mind its ostensible Toryism: Chancellor’s Spectator had been outpacing my old stable at the New Statesman for some while, recruiting some of the latter’s best talents; it was a distinction even to be asked. I was soon on the shuttle, for what was really my first-ever Washington asignment.
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in