It's Christopher, Not Chris Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Commander

In Hitchens' memoirs, he describes the dramatic series of events which saw his mother, Yvonne, leave his father and run away with Timothy Bryan, an ex-clergyman with whom she committed suicide whilst in Greece.

Answer: Peter

Many television shows have jumped at the chance to invite these two very different brothers on to their show in order to debate a number of issues. The main source of friction between the brothers, Christopher claims, is religion. The many disagreements between the bothers led to a situation where Peter remarked "If we weren't brothers we wouldn't know each other".

Answer: Anti-theist

Christopher describes the distinction as being that atheists do not believe in a god, whereas an anti-theist does not believe in a God and does not want there to be a god. This standpoint has earned Hitchens much attention, and led to him being invited to debate the existence of God with numerous leaders of different faiths. Amongst other things, Hitchens likened the existence of a god to a "celestial North Korea".

Answer: Thomas Jefferson

All four of the options given above were inspirational figures to Hitchens, and some were also subjects of books by Hitchens (namely Paine and Orwell). While often cited as sharing the same birthday, Hitchens made the point that they do not, in fact, as Jefferson was born before the British and its colonies changed from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar.

He added drily that astrologists would have had no problem in adapting to the change.

Answer: Vanity Fair

Hitchens was also a columnist for 'The Nation', but left in 2002 after disagreements with others over the Iraq War. Hitchens had a close friendship with Salman Rushdie, as well as Martin Amis, who later admitted to stealing some ideas from Christopher, as well as describing his envy of Christopher's ability to go on lengthy drinking binges before returning home to write superb essays.

Answer: Bonfire of the Vanities

Hitchens' image as a chain-smoking alcoholic can hardly be seen as unfair, since he regularly appeared on talk shows with a cup of whiskey and a lit cigarette. This attracted some criticism, including a remark from the politician George Galloway, who referred to Hitchens in a debate as a "drink-sodden ex-Trotskyist popinjay". Hitchens objected to this on the grounds that it seemed to suggest that he could not hold his drink.

Answer: The war in Iraq

After opposing the first Gulf War in 1991, it came as a shock to many that Hitchens had taken an apparent 180 turn on his views on war in the Middle East. Some have recalled the time during the first Gulf War when Hitchens asked Charlton Heston, who favoured the war, to name four countries which bordered the one he wanted to invade. Heston was not able to name any.

Answer: Mother Teresa

Christopher Hitchens described Mother Teresa as "Hell's angel" and claimed that her opposition to contraception bound women to an animal cycle which diminished the rights of the woman. The taking away of a woman's control over her pregnancies was viewed by Hitchens as a major factor in the contribution to the rapidly increasing population in India and the poverty which came with it.

Answer: Johnnie Walker Black Label

After his death, a video of many fans and admirers posted their messages of thanks to Christopher, raising their glass (of Johnnie Walker Black if available) to him. Hitchens made a note that this whiskey was also the favourite whiskey of the Saudi royal family and the Libyan dictatorship.

Answer: Hitch 22

Hitch 22 was published in 2010, and the tour was cut short so that Christopher could begin treatment for the esophageal cancer he had been diagnosed with. A clip from the 'Bill Maher Show' sees Christopher quip that "it's too early to tell" after the host asks him how he is doing.

This was actually a reference to his illness, which he had only been diagnosed with hours before. Despite his failing health and diminishing physical appearance, Christopher continued to debate with opponents as fiercely and with the same wit and control as ever.