Thomas Paine's Rights of Man: A Biography (Books That Changed the World)

Thomas Paine was one of the greatest advocates of freedom in history, and his Declaration of the Rights of Man, first published in 1791, is the key to his reputation. Inspired by his outrage at Edmund Burke’s attack on the French Revolution, Paine’s text is a passionate defense of man’s inalienable rights. Since its publication, Rights of Man has been celebrated, criticized, maligned, suppressed, and co-opted. But in Thomas Paine’s Rights of Man, the polemicist and commentator Christopher Hitchens, “at his characteristically incisive best,” marvels at its forethought and revels in its contentiousness (The Times, London). Hitchens is a political descendant of the great pamphleteer, “a Tom Paine for our troubled times.” (The Independent, London) In this “engaging account of Paine’s life and times [that is] well worth reading” he demonstrates how Paine’s book forms the philosophical cornerstone of the United States, and how, “in a time when both rights and reason are under attack,” Thomas Paine’s life and writing “will always be part of the arsenal on which we shall need to depend.” (New Statesman) A “brief but potent” appreciation of one of the most influential and revolutionary works of political thought “mixing biography, criticism and philosophy” ( Los Angeles Times ). Christopher Hitchens, the #1 New York Times –bestselling author of God Is Not Great , has been called a Tom Paine for our times. In this addition to the Books that Changed the World Series, Hitchens vividly introduces Paine and his Declaration of the Rights of Man , the world’s foremost defense of democracy. An outraged response to Edmund Burke’s attack on the French Revolution, Paine’s immortal text is a passionate defense of man’s inalienable rights, and the key to his reputation. Ever since the day of its publication in 1791, Declaration of the Rights of Man has been celebrated, criticized, maligned, suppressed, and co-opted. But in Thomas Paine’s Rights of Man , Hitchens marvels at its forethought and revels in its contentiousness. Famous as a polemicist and provocative commentator, Hitchens himself is a political descendant of the great pamphleteer. Here, he demonstrates how Paine’s book became the philosophical cornerstone of the United States of America, and how “in a time when both rights and reason are under several kinds of open and covert attack, the life and writing of Thomas Paine will always be part of the arsenal on which we shall need to depend.” Enlivened by Hitchens’s extraordinary prose, this “elegant and useful primer . . . ought still to engage us all” ( The Guardian ). “Paine, as Hitchens notes in this lucid and fast-moving appreciation, has no proper memorial anywhere; this slender book makes a good start.” — Kirkus Reviews Thomas Paine Was One Of The Greatest Advocates Of Freedom In History, And His Declaration Of The Rights Of Man, First Published In 1791, Is The Key To His Reputation. Inspired By His Outrage At Edmund Burke's Attack On The French Revolution, Paine's Text Is A Passionate Defense Of Man's Inalienable Rights. Since Its Publication, Rights Of Man Has Been Celebrated, Criticized, Maligned, Suppressed, And Co-opted. But Here, Polemicist And Commentator Christopher Hitchens Marvels At Its Forethought And Revels In Its Contentiousness. Hitchens, A Political Descendant Of The Great Pamphleteer, Demonstrates How Paine's Book Forms The Philosophical Cornerstone Of The United States, And How, In A Time When Both Rights And Reason Are Under Attack, Thomas Paine's Life And Writing Will Always Be Part Of The Arsenal On Which We Shall Need To Depend. (new Statesman)--from Publisher Description. Paine In America -- Paine In Europe -- Rights Of Man, Part One -- Rights Of Man, Part Two -- The Age Of Reason -- Conclusion : Paine's Legacy. Christopher Hitchens. Originally Published: London : Atlantic Books, 2006. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [143]-146) And Index. Christopher Hitchens, the #1 New York Times best-selling author of God Is Not Great has been called a Tom Paine for our times, and in this addition to the Books that Changed the World Series, he vividly introduces Paine and his Declaration of the Rights of Man, the world's foremost defense of democracy. Inspired by his outrage at Edmund Burke's attack on the French Revolution, Paine's text is a passionate defense of man's inalienable rights, and the key to his reputation. Ever since the day of publication in 1791, Declaration of the Rights of Man has been celebrated, criticized, maligned, suppressed, and co-opted, but in Thomas Paine's Rights of Man, Hitchens marvels at its forethought and revels in its contentiousness. Famous as a polemicist and provocative commentator, Hitchens is a political descendent of the great pamphleteer. In this engaging work he demonstrates how Thomas Paine's book forms the philosophical cornerstone of the United States of America, and how "in a time when both rights and reason are under attack, the life and writing of Thomas Paine will always be part of the arsenal on which we shall need to depend." Thomas Paine was one of the greatest advocates of freedom in history, and his Declaration of the Rights of Man , first published in 1791, is the key to his reputation. Inspired by his outrage at Edmund Burkes attack on the French Revolution, Paines text is a passionate defense of mans inalienable rights. Since its publication, Rights of Man has been celebrated, criticized, maligned, suppressed, and co-opted. But in Thomas Paines Rights of Man , the polemicist and commentator Christopher Hitchens, at his characteristically incisive best, marvels at its forethought and revels in its contentiousness ( The Times , London). Hitchens is a political descendant of the great pamphleteer, a Tom Paine for our troubled times. ( The Independent , London) In this engaging account of Paines life and times [that is] well worth reading he demonstrates how Paines book forms the philosophical cornerstone of the United States, and how, in a time when both rights and reason are under attack, Thomas Paines life and writing will always be part of the arsenal on which we shall need to depend. ( New Statesman ) Thomas Paine was one of the greatest advocates of freedom in history, and his Declaration of the Rights of Man, first published in 1791, is the key to his reputation. Inspired by his outrage at Edmund Burke's attack on the French Revolution, Paine's text is a passionate defense of man's inalienable rights. Since its publication, Rights of Man has been celebrated, criticized, maligned, suppressed, and co-opted, but in Thomas Paine's Rights of Man, the polemicist and commentator Christopher Hitchens marvels at its forethought and revels in its contentiousness. Hitchens is a political descendant of the great pamphleteer, and in this engaging work he demonstrates how Thomas Paine's book forms the philosophical cornerstone of the United States of America, and how, "in a time when both rights and reason are under attack, the life and writing of Thomas Paine will always be part of the arsenal on which we shall need to depend." Discusses the impact of Thomas Paine's "Declaration of the Rights of Man" on the common philosophical beliefs of the United States of America, and demonstrates why the beliefs held within the document should be adopted around the world.