Thomas Paine and the Literature of RevolutionAlthough the impact of works such as Common Sense and The Rights of Man has led historians to study Thomas Paine's role in the American Revolution and political scientists to evaluate his contributions to political theory, scholars have tacitly agreed not to treat him as a literary figure. This book not only redresses this omission, but also demonstrates that Paine's literary sensibility is particularly evident in the very texts that confirmed his importance as a theorist. And yet, because of this association with the 'masses', Paine is often dismissed as a mere propagandist. Thomas Paine and the Literature of Revolution recovers Paine as a transatlantic popular intellectual who would translate the major political theories of the eighteenth century into a language that was accessible and appealing to ordinary citizens on both sides of the Atlantic. |
Contents
| 1 | |
The Pennsylvania Magazine and Revolutionary American Political Discourse | 22 |
Paines Critique of the Early American Public Sphere | 49 |
3 Writing Revolutionary History | 86 |
Technological Metaphors and Scientific Methodology in Rights of Man and The Age of Reason | 114 |
The Historical Construction of Thomas Paine through the Nineteenth Century | 149 |
Paine and NineteenthCentury American Literary History | 179 |
| 195 | |
| 203 | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Abbé Raynal Adams advocate Age of Reason American Revolution appeared argues arguments asserts attack attempt audience become Billy Billy Budd biography bridge Britain British Burke Burke’s career Cato Chalmers Cheetham colonies commerce Common Sense constitutes Continental Congress critique crucial culture Deane debate deism democracy democratic early effect elite emphasizes England essay fable Federalists France Franklin French Revolution fundamental ical ideas important independence intellectual interest iron Jefferson Keane language Letter to Raynal literary marriage Melville metaphors monarchy narrative history nation nature origins Paine’s Paine's character pamphlet participation Pennsylvania Magazine Philadelphia philosophical Plain Truth political writing popular principles printer public sphere published radical readers reform relationship religion religious Republic republican revolutionary rhetoric Rickman Rights role Sarah Franklin Bache scientific served Sherwin Silas Deane social society strategy structure style suggests Thomas Paine tion Tom Paine United Vere Washington Whitman words