Rights of Man, Common Sense, and Other Political Writings (Oxford World's Classics) 1st Edition

by Thomas Paine (Author), Mark Philp (Editor)

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ISBN-13: 978-0199538003

ISBN-10: 019953800X

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Thomas Paine was the first international revolutionary. His Common Sense (1776) was the most widely read pamphlet of the American Revolution--and his Rights of Man (1791-2), the most famous defense of the French Revolution, sent out a clarion call for revolution throughout the world. Paine
paid the price for his principles: he was outlawed in Britain, narrowly escaped execution in France, and was vilified as an atheist and a Jacobin on his return to America.
This new edition contains the complete texts of both Rights of Man and Common Sense, as well as six other powerfully political writings--American Crisis I, American Crisis XIII, Agrarian Justice, Letter to Jefferson, Letter Addressed to the Addressers on the Late Proclamation, and Dissertation on
the First Principles of Government--all of which illustrate why Paine's ideas still resonate in the modern welfare states of today.

About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert
introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

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Review

'OUP's excellent series continues with a collection from the Christopher Hitchens de ses jours.' Guardian

About the Author

Author of Paine in Past Masters, Mark Philp is Fellow and Tutor in Politics at Oriel College, Oxford.

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press; 1st edition (January 1, 2009)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 544 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 019953800X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0199538003
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1320L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.1 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.7 x 1.1 x 5 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #118,515 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #21 in Linguistics (Books)
- #31 in Political History (Books)
- #72 in United States History (Books)

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Thomas Paine

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Thomas Paine (February 9, 1737 [O.S. January 29, 1736] - June 8, 1809) was an English-American political activist, philosopher, political theorist, and revolutionary. One of the Founding Fathers of the United States, he authored the two most influential pamphlets at the start of the American Revolution, and he inspired the rebels in 1776 to declare independence from Britain. His ideas reflected Enlightenment-era rhetoric of transnational human rights. He has been called "a corsetmaker by trade, a journalist by profession, and a propagandist by inclination".

Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Photo by Auguste Millière [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

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E Spatz

Pagination is Important

Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2021

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I was eager to dive into this collection of Paine's writings but when I tried to use the detailed table of contents, discovered that the actual pagination was completely different from that noted in the TOC. None of the chapters or contents aligns with the pages as they are listed, so the reader can either reindex the book manually, or just buy some other edition.

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ROUDY44

Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2020

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A MUST READ FOR THOSE THAT LIKE TO INFORMED

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Barry N. Bishop

A Radical Democrat

Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2014

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Thomas Paine is a radical democrat in the sense of someone who supports universal suffrage, the equality of all people, the leveling out of special privilege, the well-being of all people in a nation, fair and progressive taxation, lowering of taxes, the health of business and the economy, the preservation of natural and civic rights, and the assertion that the sovereignty and authority of government arises from the people. He not only supports these values but he also argues quantitatively as well as politically how they can be achieved simultaneously. Such positions are "radical" because they are opposed by many of those who rule so-called democratic governments, a fact as true today as it was in the Eighteenth Century. Most democratic governments are in need of reform because, as Paine puts it, "The man who is in the receipt of a million a year is the last person to promote a spirit of reform, in the event, it should reach to himself." (p. 257) Then as now most governments are run by millionaires. But Paine could diagnose what a good government would look like: "When it shall be said in any country in the world, my poor are happy; neither ignorance nor distress is to be found among them; my jails are empty of prisoners, my streets of beggars; the aged are not in want, the taxes are not oppressive; the rational world is my friend; because I am the friend of its happiness: when these things can be said, then may that country boast its constitution and its government." (p. 317) And his argument in "Rights of Man" was that England could not so boast. He hoped that America (and France) by contrast could and would continue to do so. But Paine was opposed and ridiculed by more than one of our "founding fathers", including John Adams.

His thinking, however, especially that of "Common Sense" (included in this volume), which was massively published in pamphlet form, was very well received by the American colonies seeking an end to English oppression. It can be argued that without the mass publication of "Common Sense" there might not have been a revolution in North America, as without the work of Benjamin Franklin in France that revolution might not have succeeded. It is notable, then, that Paine was opposed by so many of the leaders--many of whom were "in the receipt of a million a year"--and that his thinking has continued to be suppressed or ignored.

But every person, American or otherwise, who believes in his values as mentioned above should be familiar with the clear writing and thinking of this patriot. This volume is an excellent compendium, and it is not difficult to read despite its age. Beware, though--"they" probably don't want you to read it.

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Steven

Vocabulary

Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2017

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Arrived as described.
Amazing that the general public (back in the 1770s) reading Thomas Paine's writings understood his works because they had in their lexicon words that are unfamiliar to today's public.

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Donald P.

Must have.

Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2017

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In the process of reading this now. I like it, as it goes along with the other stuff I've read about the American Revolution.

One person found this helpful

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L'Enfant Terrible?

Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2017

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Thomas Paine was one of the most influential philosophers of his time, having lived through both the American and French Revolutions during the 18th century. His concepts of human dignity, nationalism and the social contract were thematic of eternal principles that resonate to this day. Only his righteous anger and vitriol, while igniting the flames of patriotism in the USA, landed him in hot water in France. He did time in a Parisian prison, continuing to write to his audience abroad. It was his pessimism towards Christendom that made him a pariah, and it was not until decades later that he was recognized as a visionary as he is regarded to this day.

Although his treatises are focused on his time in history, the principles are easily applied to current-day scenarios. He emphasizes the right to self-govern, mercilessly excoriating King George for his immoral subjugation of the Americas and the cowardice of those refusing to support the Revolution. We can see his resentment towards Christendom fomenting in his anger towards the Quakers, who cited Scriptural principles in their unwillingness to bear arms or rebel against authority. Paine cited the Divine right of Americans to realize their destiny in what he envisioned to one day become the most powerful nation on earth. In that, he became a prophet whose words rang through the centuries.

Unlike many philosophers, Paine eschews flowery phrases and rhetoric in speaking out to the common man on common sense and the American crisis. This is a handy historical work easily accessible to educators and scholars alike. Beyond that, it is an excellent resource documenting the historical times as well as discussing the essential precepts of freedom and independence challenging many nations of the world to this day. It is a worthy read that everyone can learn from.

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warriorclown

Concur with E Spatz

Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2021

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The table of contents is totally inaccurate, which is just weird. It doesn't align with the pages. We're not here to review Thom Paine, but this edition of his work, which is poor. This is the cheepo edition.

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Rainer Boegle

This book will not get old as long as humanity exists!

Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2018

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It amazes me that this book is over 300 years old, as it could have been published yesterday.
The language has changed somewhat since then, but the problems that humans face in regards to freedom and who should be allowed to have power and how far that power should extend are current problems and will stay current as long as humanity exists.

2 people found this helpful

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Danijel Scuric

Amazing book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 5, 2020

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Something everyone should read, especially today.

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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 4, 2019

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Caitlin

Good quality,

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 27, 2019

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The media could not be loaded.

Very fast delivery, sturdy and good quality.

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Paul Casey

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 22, 2016

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If you are interested in clear thought and the rationale of democracy, then read this book.

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Kathleen

A present

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 13, 2019

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The book is part of a present so hopefully the recipient will be pleased with it

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Rights of Man, Common Sense, and Other Political Writings (Oxford World's Classics) 1st Edition

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