A look at the works of Christopher Hitchens

(CBS/AP) Christopher Hitchens, a Washington, D.C.-based author, essayist and polemicist, died Thursday night at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston of pneumonia, a complication of his esophageal cancer, according to a statement from Vanity Fair magazine. He was 62.

Though the author had been dealing with cancer, he did not repent or forgive or ask for pity. He wrote about his illness in an August 2010 essay in Vanity Fair.

"I love the imagery of struggle," he wrote. "I sometimes wish I were suffering in a good cause, or risking my life for the good of others, instead of just being a gravely endangered patient."

In addition to contributing to Vanity Fair, he also wrote for other publications, including Slate magazine. Hitchens wrote numerous books, but became a popular author in 2007 thanks to "God is Not Great," a manifesto for atheists.

Click through for a look at all of Hitchens books.

A look at the works of Christopher Hitchens

Why Orwell Matters

In this biographical essay, Hitchens takes a look at the life, achievements, and the myth of George Orwell. Hitchens not only praises the great political writer, but he also critically analyzes Orwell, in Hitchens' true contrarian style. The book addresses not only why Orwell matters today, but how he will continue to matter in the future, uncertain world.

A look at the works of Christopher Hitchens

No One Left To Lie To: The Values of the Worst Family

Though most of Bill Clinton's critics were conservatives, Christopher Hitchens - considered a liberal - was also very critical of the former president. In this book, Hitchens analyzes what he called Mr. Clinton's principles, stating "Clinton's private vileness meshes exactly with his brutal and opportunistic public style." He argues that "Clintonism" consists of opportunist statecraft, crony capitalism, "divide and rule" identity politics and populist manipulation.

A look at the works of Christopher Hitchens

Thomas Paine's Rights of Man: A Biography (Books That Changed the World)

In this book, Hitchens tackles one of the greatest advocates of freedom in history, Thomas Paine. The author also takes a look at Paine's "Declaration of the Rights of Man," which was first published in 1791. Hitchens explains how Paine's book forms the philosophical cornerstone of the United States and how Paine's life and writing "will always be part of the arsenal on which we shall need to depend."

A look at the works of Christopher Hitchens

Is Christianity Good for the World?

This book documents a heated exchange between Christian apologist Douglas Wilson, author of "Letter from a Christian Citizen" and Hitchens, who is a vocal atheist. The two go head-to-head on the books question, " Is Christianity Good for the World?"

A look at the works of Christopher Hitchens

The Trial of Henry Kissinger

Hitchens attacks Henry Kissinger, the former secretary of state and national security advisor, limiting his critiques to only what he believes would be able to stand up in an international court of law. Hitchens calling Kissinger an emanation of "official evil," believes Kissinger deserves prosecution "for war crimes, for crimes against humanity, and for offenses against common or customary or international law, including conspiracy to commit murder, kidnap, and torture."

A look at the works of Christopher Hitchens

Hitchens vs. Blair: Be It Resolved Religion Is a Force for Good in the World (The Munk Debates)

Hitchens, staunch atheist, goes head-to-head with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, an openly devout political leader, on the topic of religion. The book is the print version of the debate the two had in 2010 and inclues candid post-debate interviews with Hitchens and Blair.

A look at the works of Christopher Hitchens

For the Sake of Argument: Essays and Minority Reports

In this roundup of articles and reviews from the Nation, Harper's and the Washington Post, Hitchens critiques the Washington elite. He blames the CIA for damage to American democracy, George Bush for coddling Saddam Hussein's regime and then-Governor Bill Clinton for his shameless "calculating opportunist" spirit.

A look at the works of Christopher Hitchens

Blood, Class and Empire: The Enduring Anglo-American Relationship

Hitchens explains the "special relationship" between America and Britian, through its many cultural manifestiations - the James Bond series, PBS "Brit Kitsch," Rudyard Kipling - and details why it still persists. He concludes that while the relationship is normally presented as a matter of tradition, manners and common culture, the special ingredient is empire.

A look at the works of Christopher Hitchens

Arguably: Essays by Christopher Hitchens

In this collection of essays, Hitchens provides fresh perceptions of a variety of figures, including Charles Dickens, Karl Marx, Rebecca West, George Orwell and J.G. Ballard.

A look at the works of Christopher Hitchens

God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything

In this book Hitchens makes the case against religion. He does a close study of the major religious texts and claims that religion is a man-made wish, a cause of dangerous sexual repression, and a distortion of our origins in the cosmos. Hitchens argues for a more secular life based on science and reason.

A look at the works of Christopher Hitchens

The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever

In continuing with his atheist ideology, Hitchens gathers influential voices from the past and present that have shaped his side of the God/no-God debate. His book includes the words of Lucretius, Benedict de Spinoza, Charles Darwin, Karl Marx, Mark Twain, Albert Einstein and others.

A look at the works of Christopher Hitchens

Letters to a Young Contrarian (Art of Mentoring)

In this book Hitchens, who made a career of disagreeing in interesting ways, inspires future generations of radicals, gadflies, mavericks, rebels, angry young (wo)men, and dissidents.

A look at the works of Christopher Hitchens

Hitch-22: A Memoir

In Hitchens' memoir he explains his own personal contradictions. He has been a citizen of both the United States and the United Kingdom. He has been both a socialist opposed to the war in Vietnam and a supporter of the U.S. war against Islamic extremism in Iraq. He is a fervent atheist, raised as a Christian, by a mother whose Jewish heritage was not revealed to him until her suicide.

A look at the works of Christopher Hitchens

Thomas Jefferson: Author of America (Eminent Lives)

In this biography of Thomas Jefferson, Hitchens offers a new and provocative interpretation of the Founding Father. He addresses the issue of Jefferson's owning slaves, even though he was a professed proponent of emancipation.

A look at the works of Christopher Hitchens

Love, Poverty, and War: Journeys and Essays

A collection of Hitchens' reporting from all over the world, in which he claims "I did not, I wish to state, become a journalist because there was no other 'profession' that would have me. I became a journalist because I did not want to rely on newspapers for information."

A look at the works of Christopher Hitchens

The Missionary Position: Mother Teresa in Theory and Practice

In a frank expose of the Mother Teresa cult, Hitchens details the nature and limits of one woman's mission to the world's poor. He questions the nature of the nun, whose only declared wish is to serve God and he probes the source of the heroic status bestowed upon Mother Teresa.

A look at the works of Christopher Hitchens

Hostage to History: Cyprus from the Ottomans to Kissinger

Hitchens examines the events leading up to the partition of Cyprus and its legacy. He argues that the intervention of four major foreign powers -- Turkey, Greece, Britain and the United States -- turned a local dispute into a major disaster.

A look at the works of Christopher Hitchens

The Parthenon Marbles: The Case for Reunification

Hitchens makes the moral, artistic, legal and political case for re-unifying the Parthenon frieze in Athens, after Lord Elgin, in 1801, had chunks of the frieze sawed off and shipped to England where they were seized by parliament and sold to the British Museum to help play off Elgin's debts.

A look at the works of Christopher Hitchens

Orwell's Victory

Hitchens assesses George Orwell's writing and why it retains its central importance in a modern world. He defends Orwell's politics and gives an introduction to his work.

A look at the works of Christopher Hitchens

Monarchy

This is one of Hitchens' earlier works, in which he examines the British Monarchy by examining arguments in its favor and then addresses each one. He ridicules the number of invented traditions that try to give legitimacy to the monarchy, including the investitures of the Prince of Wales in 1911 and 1969.

A look at the works of Christopher Hitchens

A Long Short War: The Postponed Liberation of Iraq

Hitchens' critical and controversial look at the Iraq war and reasons for the liberation of Iraq.

A look at the works of Christopher Hitchens

Imperial Spoils: The Curious Case of the Elgin Marbles

In this book, Hitchens examines the case of the Parthenon frieze that was sawed off by Lord Elgin. He asks the readers: Was Elgin a preservationist or an imperialist thief? Should Britain return the marbles to the Greek government? Hitchens makes the case for full restitution of the sculptures.

A look at the works of Christopher Hitchens

Regime Change

A collection of Hitchens' essays written during 2002 and 2003 for Slate magazine. In the series Hitchens sets out his convictions about war, regime change, the UN and Americanism.