Author name: Lewis H. Lapham

Lewis Henry Lapham II (January 8, 1935 – July 23, 2024) was an American writer. He was the editor of the American monthly Harper's Magazine from 1976 until 1981, and from 1983 until 2006. He was the founder of Lapham's Quarterly, a publication about history and literature, and wrote numerous books on politics and current affairs. He is the author of multiple books including, "The Wish for Kings: Democracy at Bay" and "Money and Class in America".

Cover of Common Sense, the pamphlet, released in January 1776 that ignited the American people to independence from the British Empire and called for a revolutionary representative democracy - Indiana University Bloomington

Common Sense as Timely Today as in 1776

Lewis H. Lapham / October 19, 2012

Unlike the political theorists employed by our own self-important news media, Paine doesn’t think it the duty of the political writer to keep things running quietly and smoothly. His aim is to arm ordinary individuals with the weapon with which to defend themselves against organized deception and arbitrary power.

Common Sense as Timely Today as in 1776 Read Post »

Lewis Lapham Speech at the 2012 International Conference for Thomas Paine Studies at Iona College

Lewis H. Lapham / January 1, 2012

Resources Essays

The sale of 150,000 copies within a matter of months furnished Thomas Jefferson with the proof of a national resolve that encouraged him to fit Paine’s reasoning to the writing of the Declaration of Independence in July 1776.

Declaration of Independence, Methodists, Thomas Paine in New Rochelle

Lewis Lapham Speech at the 2012 International Conference for Thomas Paine Studies at Iona College Read Post »