By R.W. Morrell
The Life Of Thomas Paine. Moncure Daniel Conway. 2 vols. 869pp. THE WRITINGS OF THOMAS PAINE. Collected & edited by Moncure Daniel Conway. 4 vols. Introduction by Michael Foot. 1925. pp. Uniform blue cloth binding in slip case. Routledge/Thoemmes Press, 1996. ISBN 0 415 14762 X. £299.00.
Moncure Daniel Conway is owed a debt by all those who admire Thomas Paine, for it was Conway who first put him on the biographical map by compiling a comprehensive biography which at one stroke made all previous works of a similar character, despite the importance of some, obsolete and provided a blueprint for all future biographers of Paine, most of whom appear to have simply repeated and elaborated what Conway said without adding anything new. In effect, Conway ‘set the record straight’ concerning him, a fact demonstrated by the use of Conway by every recent biographer of Paine and the numerous references to the book in papers and articles on him. His biography has remained essential reading for anyone studying Paine’s life and work. The two volumes in this set which constitute the biography are facsimile re-prints of the first edition, and excellent reprints at that. The remaining four volumes consist of a facsimile reprint of Conway’s edition of Paine’s writings, produced by him to supplement the Life.
I must confess to a certain disappointment with the reprint of the works, not, I should add, with Conway’s editing of them, which is first rate and underscores the value of this set, but with the failure to preface them with anything that draws attention to the fact that at least one essay included, An Occasional Letter an the Female Sex, which is not by Paine, as Conway believed, but by the French writer, A.L. Thomas, who published it in Paris in 1772 as, Essai sur le Caractere, les Moeurs, et l’Esprit des Femmes dans les Différents Siècles. In fact there should have been incorporated into this edition a full list of works which are currently considered to be without question by Paine. Those who want such a list will have to turn to the collection of Paine’s works edited a few years ago by Philip S. Foner.
It could be objected that Conway tends to approach Paine’s life and works rather uncritically, seeing his subject through rose-tinted spectacles, so to speak. However, there was good reason for this and it does not detract from the value of these books. There are several recent biographies of Paine, most notably those by Audrey Williamson and John Keane, who see Paine in a more critical manner, without any trace of hostility. These works are essential companions to Conway’s books.
I have to say that while I found Michael Foot’s brief introduction interesting it left much to be desired. Here was an opportunity to draw attention to any errors in Conway, for example the religious denomina- tion the 011ive’s subscribed to which Conway incorrectly has as Quaker whereas it was in fact Unitarian. Considering the very high price being asked for this set there are certain things one expects to find as a matter of course and when they are found to be missing it would be wrong not to call attention to the fact. However, criticism apart, this is a superb set and anyone interested in Paine’s life and work should try to acquire it.