Thomas Paine: Enlightenment, Revolution, and the Birth of Modern NationsA fresh new look at the Enlightenment intellectual who became the most controversial of America's founding fathers Despite his being a founder of both the United States and the French Republic, the creator of the phrase "United States of America," and the author of Common Sense, Thomas Paine is the least well known of America's founding fathers. This edifying biography by Craig Nelson traces Paine's path from his years as a London mechanic, through his emergence as the voice of revolutionary fervor on two continents, to his final days in the throes of dementia. By acquainting us as never before with this complex and combative genius, Nelson rescues a giant from obscurity-and gives us a fascinating work of history. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 84
Page 5
... attacked this group of do - gooders , claiming that their " humanity , like that of all the reforming philosophers of the present enlightened day , is of the speculative kind . It never breaks out into action . " Two decades later , he ...
... attacked this group of do - gooders , claiming that their " humanity , like that of all the reforming philosophers of the present enlightened day , is of the speculative kind . It never breaks out into action . " Two decades later , he ...
Page 6
... attack subsidized by the British government . What Cobbett could not undo or scarcely bear was Paine's debased reputation . How could the American people ignore this hero , who had convinced their ancestors to renounce the depraved ...
... attack subsidized by the British government . What Cobbett could not undo or scarcely bear was Paine's debased reputation . How could the American people ignore this hero , who had convinced their ancestors to renounce the depraved ...
Page 10
... attack his editor's professional- ism . Cheetham would wait until the week of the official announcement of Paine's death , and then take his vengeance with a biography of vicious slurs . Under the guise of a fair and balanced journalist ...
... attack his editor's professional- ism . Cheetham would wait until the week of the official announcement of Paine's death , and then take his vengeance with a biography of vicious slurs . Under the guise of a fair and balanced journalist ...
Page 19
... attack , started what would become the first global war was George Washington . Two years later , Prussia's Frederick the Great invaded Saxony , and these minor skirmishes triggered an epic clash of France , Austria , Saxony , Sweden ...
... attack , started what would become the first global war was George Washington . Two years later , Prussia's Frederick the Great invaded Saxony , and these minor skirmishes triggered an epic clash of France , Austria , Saxony , Sweden ...
Page 41
... attack King George III and his ministers - along with George's very own mother - in the pages of his newspaper , the North Briton . The government replied by having Wilkes thrown into the Tower , but the lord chief justice ruled this a ...
... attack King George III and his ministers - along with George's very own mother - in the pages of his newspaper , the North Briton . The government replied by having Wilkes thrown into the Tower , but the lord chief justice ruled this a ...
Contents
1 | |
12 | |
Pragmatic Utopians | 51 |
Hell Is Not Easily Conquered | 101 |
The Silas Deane Affair | 126 |
The Missionary Bereft of His Mission | 146 |
Droits de lHomme ou Droits du Seigneur? | 181 |
The Sovereigns Among Us | 235 |
The Religion of Science | 260 |
The Perfidious Mr Morris | 273 |
Utopian Dissolves | 305 |
Provenance | 326 |
Notes | 341 |
Sources | 365 |
Index | 377 |
Other editions - View all
Thomas Paine: Enlightenment, Revolution, and the Birth of Modern Nations Craig Nelson Limited preview - 2007 |
Thomas Paine: Enlightenment, Revolution, and the Birth of Modern Nations Craig Nelson Limited preview - 2007 |
Common terms and phrases
American appeared army arrived attack became become began believe Benjamin Britain British Burke called cause century citizens civil Cobbett colonial Common Sense Congress considered constitution Convention Conway Deane death England English Enlightenment Europe fact finally force France Franklin French George give hand human hundred ideas immediately included independence inspired James Jefferson John Adams king known later less letter liberty living London March means mind minister monarchy months Morris natural needed never offered original Paine's Paris passed Pennsylvania person Philadelphia Philosophical political present president Press principles printed published Quaker Reason received refused Republic republican Revolution Rights sans-culottes Society Street things Thomas Paine thought thousand tion turn United University Washington whole writing wrote York