Dispatches from Vilnius

Orwell saving a puppy during the Spanish Civil War It is 30 years after Orwell's good bad back 1984 and the world hasn't exactly come to the dire state, which many felt Orwell "predicted" like some latter-day Nostradamus, taking this novel at face value.  It seems few have read his other books, like Homage to Catalonia , or his essays, which clearly outline a man who firmly adopted progressive causes.  Instead, there are many who somehow see him in the same vein as Ayn Rand and have adopted him as an ardent anti-Communist and neoconservative like themselves. I say this because Orwell pops up a lot in conservative media.  Here is a writer for Breitbart using Orwell to defend the conservative view that the current mainstream media is state-friendly and is used to "reinforce the Democratic Party line."  A view reinforced by the conservative pundits at Fox News, the most popular news channel in America.  This writer sees the scandals that have engulfed N...

Christopher Hitchens loved his booze and cigarettes.  He felt that it gave him an edge when it came to writing copy.   Charlie Rose had Salman Rushdie, Martin Amis, Ian McEwan and James Fenton on the other night discussing this and other aspects of Hitch's life.   They all spoke very warmly of him, especially Amis, who was one of his dearest friends.  Hitch apparently liked to tease him in saying that they had an unconsummated gay marriage.  Fenton noted Hitch's incorrigible "flirting" and the way he liked to entertain opposing views.  His Washington parties would have persons from across the political spectrum.  He loved being in the thick of things, among those who shaped policies, but at the same time would fly over at a moment's notice to be with one of his friends when he needed him.  Rushdie noted that Hitch stood by him throughout the fatwa ordeal and defended him against Le Carre when the two of them had their big row.  They all sa...