Common Sense, Rights of Man, and Other Essential Writings of Thomas Paine

Paine's daring prose paved the way for the Declaration of Independence and the Revolutionary War. This volume also includes ""The Crisis,"" ""The Age of Reason,"" and ""Agrarian Justice.""

“Without...Paine, the sword of Washington would have been wielded in vain.”

""--John Adams

Paine was born in Norfolk, England, on January 29, 1737. He received a basic education in history, mathematics, and science, but left school at age 13 to apprentice in his father's corsetmaking shop. In 1757, he spent time at sea aboard the privateer ship King of Prussia, and later found employment as a journeyman staymaker in London. All the while, Paine continued to study on his own, influenced by the work of two leading figures of the Enlightenment, Isaac Newton and John Locke. He began writing political pamphlets, and at the urging of Benjamin Franklin, emigrated to Philadelphia in 1774 to

"Ye that dare oppose, not only the tyranny, but the tyrant, stand forth!" In January 1776, Thomas Paine published a pamphlet called Common Sense, which electrified the American colonies. Paine demanded freedom from Britain when even fervent patriots were revolting only against excessive taxation. His daring prose spurred passage of the Declaration of Independence. The Crisis, written when Paine was a soldier during the Continental Army's bleakest days, begins with the world-famous line "These are the times that try men's souls." His call for perseverance and fortitude prevented Washington's army from disintegrating. Later, Paine's impassioned defense of the French Revolution, Rights of Man, caused an immediate sensation, but got him into deep trouble with the French ruling classes. Together in one volume, Common Sense, Rights of Man, and major selections from The Crisis, The Age of Reason, and Agrarian Justice represent the key works of one of the world's most eloquent proponents of democracy-the man who has been justly hailed as the "English Voltaire."

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.