In so far as I know, though I stand to be corrected, until this book appeared, no work of substance on Paine has appeared in Portugal, though I have seen references to some of Paine’s works being translated into Portuguese.
Not unnaturally both these publications are concerned with the political philosophies adopted by each group, with the Anarchists being the rather more confused due to their habit of adopting different tendencies. However, both books deserve mention.
BOOK REVIEW: The Monument: The Story Of The Socialist Party Of Great Britain Read Post »
Following her excellent biographical study of Thomas Paine, Audrey Williamson has now given us one on another radical reformer, John Wilkes. Unlike Paine, Wilkes has been the central subject of many a learned book and article.
This book reprints the pamphlets on Hardie, Paine, Burns (John not Robert), Lovett, Place, Owen and the Webbs, and so has particular value to students of Paine. It is, though, a great pity that the essays on Carlile and Cobbett could not have been included.
Volney was the author of a great many works but it is beyond question that his most influential was “The Ruins”. It first appeared in France in 1791 (the year that saw Part 1 of Paine’s Rights of Man appear), and soon ran through several editions.
C.F. Volney, The Forgotten Revolutionary And Scientist Read Post »
BEFORE HIS “CONVERSION” to a pro-Paineite position, William Cobbett made several bitter attacks on Paine and his ideas. Following his “change of heart” Cobbett found his anti-Paine material being used against him.
Both of the studies reviewed heroes I found very interesting and they are no doubt of considerable value. Hamburger’s study lends itself to consistent arguementatIon, far more easily than does that of Miss Hollis’s and therefore I suppose one is inclined to consider it the more readable.
BOOK REVIEW: A Study in Working Class Radicalism in the 1830s Read Post »
“America and Its People” is the type of book one finds easy to read, in fact it is of a type not easy to lay down once started. The only criticism I level at it is that it is too short – for my liking. Paine features large in it.
Joseph Lewis was a major factor in having Thomas Paine placed in the Hall of Fame and a bronze bust placed therein. He was largely instrumental in having the United States government issue a postage stamp honoring Paine.
Herbert Cutner died aged 88 in February of this year. His death is a loss not only to art but also to this Society. Cutner was a Founder Member of the Thomas Paine Society and the first individual to accept a Vice-Presidency.
I suspect that Paine would not have agreed with being called an “Angel”, though when taking into account some of the other things he was called, such a description is innocuous enough. This book has no value as a historical work, but it certainly has value as a Paine curiosity.
Thomas “Clio” Rickman (1761-1834) was a prominent radical reformer, bookseller and propagandist. He was a close friend of Thomas Paine who subscribed to his book of poems and wrote the first friendly life of him.
