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 79
Page 6
... colony ? At the same time , the citizens of Britain were rejecting this vision- ary who had been threatened with execution , and who had suffered life- long exile from his native country , solely because he attempted to gain political ...
... colony ? At the same time , the citizens of Britain were rejecting this vision- ary who had been threatened with execution , and who had suffered life- long exile from his native country , solely because he attempted to gain political ...
Page 10
... Colonies . Practically every human detail about the seventeenth century's lode- stone figure , Isaac Newton , is now lost to us , even the specifics of his phys- ical appearance . The same is almost true of Paine , the vast majority of ...
... Colonies . Practically every human detail about the seventeenth century's lode- stone figure , Isaac Newton , is now lost to us , even the specifics of his phys- ical appearance . The same is almost true of Paine , the vast majority of ...
Page 14
... Colonies ) was a biological miracle , a Rousseau dream , and an English class- system nightmare . His forty - year - old Anglican mother , Frances , was the daughter of a Thetford lawyer so popular and successful that he would be named ...
... Colonies ) was a biological miracle , a Rousseau dream , and an English class- system nightmare . His forty - year - old Anglican mother , Frances , was the daughter of a Thetford lawyer so popular and successful that he would be named ...
Page 15
... colonies , or a session on the ducking stool at the river Thet . Those re- fused such mercies of the court would be led to the chalk ridge overlooking the Pain cottage , their bodies left to swing for an hour as the townspeople watched ...
... colonies , or a session on the ducking stool at the river Thet . Those re- fused such mercies of the court would be led to the chalk ridge overlooking the Pain cottage , their bodies left to swing for an hour as the townspeople watched ...
Page 19
... colony's governor sent this boy - volunteering for his first military assignment - to deliver a letter demanding that ... colonial power on the other . Like all wars , this one provided a cornucopia of Begotten by a Wild Boar on a Bitch ...
... colony's governor sent this boy - volunteering for his first military assignment - to deliver a letter demanding that ... colonial power on the other . Like all wars , this one provided a cornucopia of Begotten by a Wild Boar on a Bitch ...
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