The Literary Life Podcast: Episode 271 – The Literary Life of Peter Hitchens

Release Date: April 8, 2025

Hosts: Angelina Stanford and Thomas Banks

Guest: Peter Hitchens

Introduction

In Episode 271 of The Literary Life Podcast, hosts Angelina Stanford and Thomas Banks welcome renowned writer and journalist Peter Hitchens. The episode delves deep into Hitchens' extensive reading life, his perspectives on literature's role in society, and his favorite authors and works. This engaging conversation offers listeners invaluable insights into the importance of literary tradition and the personal reading journeys that shape influential thinkers.

Sharing Quotes

00:18 – 05:14

The episode begins with Angelina Stanford emphasizing the podcast's mission to explore the skill and art of reading well. The hosts introduce their tradition of sharing meaningful quotes to kickstart discussions.

• Thomas Banks (03:33): Shares a quote from Robert Lynd's The Art of Letters:

  "We require in literature both the authority of tradition and the liberty of genius to seek new conquests. Unfortunately, we cannot agree as to the proportions in which each of them is required."

• Peter Hitchens (04:15): Recites W.B. Yeats' poem "The Lake Isle of Innisfree":

  "I will rise and go now and go to Innisfree... I hear lake water lapping and low sounds by the shore."

Hitchens elaborates on the poem's connection to London’s Fleet Street, highlighting the blend of imagination and real-world settings.

• Angelina Stanford (06:02): Shares a quote from George Orwell's essay "Politics and the English Language":

  "The process is reversible. Modern English, especially written English, is full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take the necessary trouble."

This sets the stage for a discussion on the degeneration of language and its broader implications.

Childhood and Reading Habits

08:37 – 13:02

The conversation shifts to Hitchens' early relationship with books:

• Childhood Reading: Hitchens recounts reading classics like Black Beauty and The Wind in the Willows. He expresses a deep connection to Kenneth Grahame's work, emphasizing how specific locales in the book mirror his real-life surroundings.

  "It's not just a work of the imagination for me. It's a description of a place where I live." (05:28)

• Adolescence: Hitchens describes how his reading life remained constant through adolescence into adulthood. A pivotal moment was reading All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren during a stay in Moscow, which he read multiple times as an escape from solitude.

  "I always remember that I read it as an escape from the boredom of solitude and waiting." (13:02)

Favorite Books and Authors

13:10 – 51:36

Hitchens passionately discusses various authors and their impact on his literary journey:

1. Robert Penn Warren – All the King's Men (13:10 – 15:44)

   • Hitchens praises the novel's depth and its depiction of power and morality.
   • He highlights the complexity of hero worship versus human fallibility within the narrative.

2. George Orwell (21:22 – 25:52)

   • Contrary to mainstream focus on Animal Farm and 1984, Hitchens emphasizes Orwell's essays, particularly Homage to Catalonia and Inside the Whale.

   • He critiques the oversimplification of Orwell’s legacy, advocating for a broader appreciation of his work.

     "Homage to Catalonia was the origin of both Animal Farm and of 1984." (25:52)

3. Olivia Manning (34:45 – 36:14)

   • Hitchens lauds Manning's Balkan Trilogy for its vivid portrayal of war and its impact on individuals.
   • He compares her work favorably to contemporaries like Evelyn Waugh.

4. John Steinbeck and F. Scott Fitzgerald (35:00 – 38:14)

   • While admiring East of Eden and The Grapes of Wrath, Hitchens confesses his struggle with Fitzgerald’s Tender Is the Night and Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

5. Kingsley Amis (45:22 – 56:08)

   • Hitchens appreciates Amis for his literary prowess beyond Lucky Jim, recommending works like The Green Man and Russian Hide and Seek.
   • He criticizes the neglect of Amis's contributions due to his perceived middlebrow status.

6. Josephine Tey and Detective Fiction (50:02 – 51:33)

   • Highlights of Tey’s The Daughter of Time, lauded for its moral depth and narrative twists.

7. Montague James (James) – Ghost Stories (57:01 – 64:44)

   • Hitchens praises James' ghost stories for their authenticity and malevolence, recommending tales like Martin's Close and Count Magnus.

The Role of Literature in Civilization

55:23 – 69:26

Hitchens delves into why literature remains vital in the digital age:

• Storytelling as Fundamental Communication (69:49 – 73:00)

  "Storytelling is the most fundamental way in which we communicate ideas to each other.... If you cut yourself off from the great tradition of storytelling, then you cut yourself off from civilization."

• Imagination and Moral Development (69:26 – 69:49)

  • Emphasizes that reading engages the imagination, fostering a collective conscience and moral reasoning.

• George Orwell’s Influence (67:49 – 69:26)

  • References Orwell's essays as essential readings to avoid writing pitfalls and to maintain clarity and purpose in communication.

The King James Bible

69:30 – 74:32

A significant portion of the discussion centers on Hitchens' advocacy for the Authorized Version of the Bible:

• Literary Merit

  "It's beautiful. It's poetic.... if the test of all good literature is that it can be read aloud, it was designed to be read aloud."

• Memorability and Cadence

  • Hitchens argues that the King James Bible's language is both accessible and memorable, contrary to modern criticisms of archaic language.

• Cultural Preservation

  "Traditional prayers have been bowdlerised... They are to be read aloud and memorable."

• Personal Connection

  • Shares his admiration for the Bible's poetic passages and their enduring impact on English literature.

Advice for Aspiring Writers

74:32 – 76:47

Hitchens offers practical advice to students and aspiring writers:

• Focus on Passion

  "What is it you want to write about? Writing. It's not just a tool. It's shaped by what you want to write about and what your passions are."

• Language Discipline

  • Stresses the importance of clear, concise language, referencing Orwell's essay on avoiding bad writing habits.

• Critical Engagement

  "The warnings that essay gives are so good. And so you get it by heart, if you can, because it is."

• Caution Against Overwriting

  • Suggests being mindful of slipping into rhetorical excess and maintaining clarity.

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with the hosts expressing their gratitude to Peter Hitchens for his insightful contributions. They tease upcoming content, including a repeat of their series on Elizabeth von Arnim's The Enchanted April and a spring conference on "Living Language: Why Words Matter," aligning perfectly with the episode's themes.

Hitchens leaves listeners with a reaffirmed belief in the transformative power of stories and literature in shaping individual minds and, by extension, society at large.

Notable Quotes

1. Thomas Banks (03:33):

   "We require in literature both the authority of tradition and the liberty of genius to seek new conquests. Unfortunately, we cannot agree as to the proportions in which each of them is required."

2. Peter Hitchens (04:15):

   Recitation of W.B. Yeats' "The Lake Isle of Innisfree."

3. Angelina Stanford (06:02):

   "It is not just a tool. It's shaped by what you want to write about and what your passions are."

4. Peter Hitchens (69:48):

   "Storytelling is the most fundamental way in which we communicate ideas to each other. ... If you cut yourself off from the great tradition of storytelling, then you cut yourself off from civilization."

5. Peter Hitchens (69:26):

   "Modern English, especially written English, is full of bad habits which spread by imitation and which can be avoided if one is willing to take the necessary trouble."

Final Thoughts

Episode 271 of The Literary Life Podcast with Peter Hitchens offers a rich tapestry of literary discussion, ranging from personal anecdotes about cherished books to profound reflections on the necessity of storytelling in maintaining cultural and civilizational integrity. Through Hitchens' eloquent insights and the hosts' thoughtful probing, listeners are invited to re-examine their own relationship with literature and appreciate the enduring power of great storytelling.