Writer dishes dirt on ‘sexist’ Assange

Writer dishes dirt on 'sexist' Assange

The man who tried to co-write Julian Assange's autobiography says the Australian can be sexist and anti-semitic as well as a courageous purser of the truth - so long as it doesn't relate to himself.

Scottish writer Andrew O'Hagan has penned a lengthy essay about his three-year relationship with Assange, which started when he was asked to ghostwrite the WikiLeaks founder's autobiography.

Like with journalist David Marr's essay on former prime minister Kevin Rudd, some might accuse O'Hagan of pop psychology.

But no one will deny his London Review of Books (LRB) article is a riveting read.

O'Hagan argues Assange has a habit of self-regard and truth-manipulation.

"The man who put himself in charge of disclosing the world's secrets simply couldn't bear his own," he writes of the failed collaboration which resulted in an unauthorised biography being published in late 2011.

"The story of his life mortified him and sent him scurrying for excuses."

O'Hagan believes the computer hacker was worried personal material - about his stepfather's drinking and the cult leader who followed his mum - would be used to suggest he was "weak".

"He wanted to cover up everything about himself except his fame."

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Writer dishes dirt on 'sexist' Assange