In 1964, there was political opposition to the erection of Paine’s statue outside King’s House in Thetford, UK which was a gift from the American Thomas Paine Foundation. The controversy led to the foundation of the Thomas Paine Society UK with a goal of promoting a better understanding of the man and his work. The Thomas Paine Society UK became the premier Thomas Paine historical society in the UK. In 2025, the Thomas Paine National Historical Association merged with the Thomas Paine Society UK to form the internationally-focused Thomas Paine Historical Association. This is the archive of the Thomas Paine Society UK Bulletin from 1965 to 2013.
This book has much to commend it, at the same time it is rather a difficult work on which to comment. Central to it is the hundred years existence of the National Secular Society, but it is not really a history of the organisation. The title thus misleads.
BOOK REVIEW: 100 Years of Freethought by David Tribe Read Post »
If ever the magpie instinct in a man were justified, it is justified in Ambrose C. Barker, whose collection of Paine material was presented by Miss Ella Twynam to the Thetford Public Library. The five shelves form an excellent source of fascinating material for students and advanced researchers alike.
Surprisingly, in view of the apparent motivations of the author, the piece is in no sense a dramatisation of Paine’s career. Tom is represented on the stage (inordinately unappetisingly, as it happens), but Foster merely uses the man’s words and ideas as a springboard into dark pools of surrealist fantasy.
Tom Paine – The La Mama Production of Paul Foster’s Play Read Post »
Some readers may object to the bias shown to the Chartists. Yet if a bias is present it in no way detracts from the value of the work, this, as the author clearly states, is not a “King history” but is concerned with the struggles of ordinary men and women.
I am delighted that children these days are being treated to a great number of excellent books – books, in which they can discover pleasure and stimulation for their receptive minds. My delight was doubled, when I received Mrs. Grace Neff Brett’s The Picture Story and Biography of Tom Paine.
BOOK REVIEW: The Picture Story And Biography Of Tom Paine Read Post »
It is with deep regret that we have to report the death at an early age of James Harold Croft, Founder Member and Member of the Council of the Thomas Paine Society. Harry played a leading role in the moves to form the Society.
Paine’s ideas on economics and finance were of a piece with his approach to politics. Applied science and the development of industry could bring benefits to humanity, but only so long as their fruits accrued to the labouring men and small property owners who were the creators of wealth.
Paine’s rhetorical question brings sharply into focus the difficulty posed by this kind of writing for the literary critic. By normal standards his writing must be rated low, and yet what has been said here should confirm his mastery of techniques appropriate to the occasion.
Mr. Blaydon was an expert on local history, being also an Associate of the Royal Historical Society. In the correspondence appear notes on many topics of interest to students of Paine what may have happened to Paine’s bones, whether Paine was a Freemason, and details of the Rev. William Knowles.
IN the midst of the controversy over Silas Deane’s negotiations with the French government, the most sensational political scandal of the American Revolution, Thomas Paine brought forth several satirical pieces in verse and prose under a new pseudonym, Comus.
From time to time long forgotten but interesting bibliographical material relative to Thomas Paine comes to light. Such material may offer us nothing new about Paine himself but it often serves to indicate the high regard for his memory his supporters had. One such item recently came my way
The principal event held to date to commemorate the 175th Anniversary of the publication of Rights of Man has been the exhibition organised jointly by the Nottingham Co-operative Society, Private Libraries Association and the Thomas Paine Society at the Co-operative Arts Centre, Nottingham.
