Thomas Paine

Thomas Paine was English-American writer and political pamphleteer whose Common Sense pamphlet and Crisis papers were important influences on the American Revolution. Other works that contributed to his reputation as one of the greatest political propagandists in history were Rights of Man, a defense of the French Revolution and of republican principles, and The Age of Reason, an exposition of the place of religion in society.

It was only a pamphlet, yet one of the most influential in human history, significantly influencing American independence. The pamphlet, in which Paine castigates the then British King George as a "pharaoh" and a "royal beast," caused a change of opinion in many quarters and won over parts of the American population to the idea of independence. "Common Sense" decisively influenced the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson. Paine was also the first to propose calling the new nation the "United States of America." "Common Sense" became the most popular pamphlet in the American colonies. This tremendous success was also due to the fact that Paine - unlike most other writers of his time - used vernacular language. Among the aristocrats, however, it met with criticism because of its demand for a unified parliament without a privileged House of Lords. Gr ls Classics - English Edition

The Age of Reason; Being an Investigation of True and Fabulous Theology is a work by English and American political activist Thomas Paine, arguing for the philosophical position of deism. It follows in the tradition of 18th-century British deism, and challenges institutionalized religion and the legitimacy of the Bible. It was published in three parts in 1794, 1795, and 1807. It was a best-seller in the United States, where it caused a short-lived deistic revival. British audiences, fearing increased political radicalism as a result of the French Revolution, received it with more hostility. The Age of Reason presents common deistic arguments; for example, it highlights what Paine saw as corruption of the Christian Church and criticizes its efforts to acquire political power. Paine advocates reason in the place of revelation, leading him to reject miracles and to view the Bible as an ordinary piece of literature, rather than a divinely-inspired text. In The Age of Reason, he promotes natural religion and argues for the existence of a creator god. Most of Paine's arguments had long been available to the educated elite, but by presenting them in an engaging and irreverent style, he made deism appealing and accessible to the masses. Originally distributed as unbound pamphlets, the book was also cheap, putting it within the reach of a large number of buyers. Fearing the spread of what it viewed as potentially-revolutionary ideas, the British government prosecuted printers and booksellers who tried to publish and distribute it. Nevertheless, Paine's work inspired and guided many free thinkers. (wikipedia.org)

The Age of Reason; Being an Investigation of True and Fabulous Theology is a work by English and American political activist Thomas Paine, arguing for the philosophical position of deism. It follows in the tradition of 18th-century British deism, and challenges institutionalized religion and the legitimacy of the Bible. It was published in three parts in 1794, 1795, and 1807. It was a best-seller in the United States, where it caused a short-lived deistic revival. British audiences, fearing increased political radicalism as a result of the French Revolution, received it with more hostility. The Age of Reason presents common deistic arguments; for example, it highlights what Paine saw as corruption of the Christian Church and criticizes its efforts to acquire political power. Paine advocates reason in the place of revelation, leading him to reject miracles and to view the Bible as an ordinary piece of literature, rather than a divinely-inspired text. In The Age of Reason, he promotes natural religion and argues for the existence of a creator god. Most of Paine's arguments had long been available to the educated elite, but by presenting them in an engaging and irreverent style, he made deism appealing and accessible to the masses. Originally distributed as unbound pamphlets, the book was also cheap, putting it within the reach of a large number of buyers. Fearing the spread of what it viewed as potentially-revolutionary ideas, the British government prosecuted printers and booksellers who tried to publish and distribute it. Nevertheless, Paine's work inspired and guided many free thinkers. (wikipedia.org)

It was only a pamphlet, yet one of the most influential in human history, significantly influencing American independence. The pamphlet, in which Paine castigates the then British King George as a "pharaoh" and a "royal beast," caused a change of opinion in many quarters and won over parts of the American population to the idea of independence. "Common Sense" decisively influenced the Declaration of Independence written by Thomas Jefferson. Paine was also the first to propose calling the new nation the "United States of America." "Common Sense" became the most popular pamphlet in the American colonies. This tremendous success was also due to the fact that Paine - unlike most other writers of his time - used vernacular language. Among the aristocrats, however, it met with criticism because of its demand for a unified parliament without a privileged House of Lords. Gr ls Classics - English Edition

A Letter Addressed to the Abbe Raynal, on the Affairs of North America, in Which the Mistakes in the Abbe's Account of the Revolution of America Are Corrected and Cleared Up has been regarded as significant work throughout human history, and in order to ensure that this work is never lost, we have taken steps to ensure its preservation by republishing this book in a contemporary format for both current and future generations. This entire book has been retyped, redesigned, and reformatted. Since these books are not made from scanned copies, the text is readable and clear.