author
Thomas Paine
1737–1809
A fiery pamphleteer of the revolutionary age, he wrote in plain, urgent prose that helped turn political ideas into popular action. His works, especially Common Sense, made him one of the most influential voices of the American and French revolutions.
8 Audiobooks
Common Sense
by Thomas Paine
Common Sense
by Thomas Paine
The Writings Of Thomas Paine, Volume III. 1791-1804
by Thomas Paine
About the author
Born in Thetford, England, in 1737, Thomas Paine spent years in ordinary trades and government work before crossing to America in 1774. Soon after arriving, he began writing for the patriot cause, and in 1776 his pamphlet Common Sense argued so directly for independence that it became one of the defining texts of the American Revolution.
Paine followed it with The American Crisis papers, including the famous opening line about "times that try men's souls," and later wrote Rights of Man in defense of the French Revolution. He also published The Age of Reason, a forceful critique of organized religion that made him deeply controversial even among some former admirers.
Remembered as an English-born American revolutionary writer, political thinker, and champion of republican ideals, Paine had enormous influence on public debate on both sides of the Atlantic. He died in 1809, but his clear, fearless style still stands out as a model of political writing meant for everyday readers.