A Collection of Unknown Writings

Resumen del libro

This collection offers a glimpse of Thomas Paine, the eighteenth-century radical pamphleteer, as has not been seen, either publicly or privately, in over 200 years. Introduced by a unique biography, those readers familiar with his writings may be surprised at the topics, personal thoughts, and romantic themes to which he applied his ever-to-hand, rarely dry, goose quill pen. From personal correspondence and poetry, to one piece revealing his true thoughts on the monarchical system of Britain, and a book-length inflammatory pamphlet, Paine is shown to be an even more enigmatic figure than previously known.

Two recently discovered portraits of Paine, one of a proudly-confident, middle aged man of Philadelphia and the other an elegantly-dressed, older, gentleman of Paris, add mystery to this book, a mystery yet to be solved. Hazel Burgess's additions to the Paine corpus are indispensable reading to those interested in eighteenth-century transatlantic history.