Our collection of articles, records and reviews with book reviews related to Thomas Paine.
This well produced book brings together the most important of Spence’s political writings, though consideration of his attempts to promote some of his ideas through the use of political tokens is largely ignored.
BOOK REVIEW: The Political Works Of Thomas Spence Read Post »
Even among the students of social movements there is a wide measure of ignorance as to the extent and influence of the Freethought movement particularly in the second half of the 19th century.
BOOK REVIEW: Freethought In The United States, A Descriptive Bibliography Read Post »
Perhaps the point made in this book which struck me with most force occurred when the author was discussing the controversy between Burke and Paine. Paine refers to the view of some individuals he does not name who considered Burke “a madman.”
The brutal treatment meted out to the ringleaders of the mutiny makes grim reading, and is testimony to the genuine fear among the self—apointed leaders of England at the threat to their wealth and privilege the mutiny posed. Their attitude is reflected among some of today’s political figures.
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.
David Vincent in his introduction refers to the quite unprecedented circulation in the 1790s of Thomas Paine’s Rights of Man. Its dangerous truth; in explaining the corrupt state of the British government.
BOOK REVIEW: Testaments Of Radicalism Of Working Class Politicians Read Post »
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 »
ERIC FONER HAS GIVEN us a book which is both challenging and provocative. It would overcome the limits of prior interpretations of Thomas Paine with a new understanding of the pamphleteer and his works, trace the “roots” of his political thought.
BOOK REVIEW: Tom Paine And Revolutionary America Read Post »
Well after hitting out what does one make of the book as it stands? Well it’s good, even if it deals in the main with the familiar. It’s worth getting, although I am uncertain as to what section of the reading populace towards which it is directed.
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.
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 »
