Rights of Man
by Thomas Paine
Thomas Paine (1737-1809) Revolutionary, author, pamphleteer. Thomas Paine had the ability to communicate the ideas of the Age of Revolution in plain English that could be understood by all. He is considered one of the most radical thinkers of the age.[1] In The Rights of Man, he defended the French Revolution against the attacks of Edmund Burke. This response repudiated the concept of “hereditary” governments found in monarchies.[2] Because of his arguments against monarchy, Paine was charged with seditious libel causing him to flee England never to return.[3]
Paine was born in Thetford, Norfolk, England.[4] He spent his youth in England and met with limited success in his various enterprises. At thirty-seven, on the recommendation of Benjamin Franklin, he moved to America where he found his true calling.[5] There he began working as a journalist and used his skill in writing and debate to support and promote the American Revolution. His pamphlet Common Sense “became one of the most successful and influential pamphlets in the history of political writing.”[6] It helped the colonists see independence as “both desirable and attainable.”[7]
After the Revolution, Paine went back to England where he became acquainted with Edmund Burke.[8] When Burke attacked the French Revolution in writing, Paine responded with The Rights of Man.[9] As a result of his argument against Burke, he was charged with sedition and fled to France. During his time in France, he was imprisoned for speaking out against executing King Louis XVI.[10] While in prison he wrote The Age of Reason in which he argued against the church. He was released from prison with the help of James Monroe and returned to America.[11] He found that because of his ideas in The Age of Reason he was very unpopular in the United States. When he died on June 8, 1809 only a handful of people attended his funeral.[12]
Bibliographic Information
Author: Thomas Paine.
Title: Rights of Man: Being an Answer to Mr. Burke's Attack on the French Revolution bound with Rights of Man: Part the Second, Combining Principle and Practice.
Publication Info: London: Printed for J.S. Jordan, 1791-1792.
Edition: Eighth edition ; x, 171 pages (part one); xv, 178 pages (part two).
Evidence for Inclusion in Wythe's Library
Description of the Wolf Law Library's copy
Bound in early nineteenth century full tan diced calf binding. Spine with raised bands, brown title label, gilt. Purchased from Paul Foster-ABA.
View part one and part two in William & Mary's online catalog.
External Links
References
- ↑ Erick Foner, “Paine, Thomas” in American National Biography Online (Oxford University Press, Feb. 2000- ), accessed Oct. 3, 2013. (Subscription required for access.)
- ↑ Mark Philip, "Paine, Thomas (1737–1809)" in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004- ), accessed Oct. 3, 2013. (Subscription required for access.)
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Foner, "Paine, Thomas."
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Philip, "Paine Thomas."
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Ibid.
- ↑ Philip, "Paine Thomas."
