Thomas Paine

Enlightenment, Revolution, and the Birth of Modern Nations

By: Craig Nelson

Narrated by: Paul Hecht

John Adams told Thomas Jefferson that “history is to ascribe the American Revolution to Thomas Paine.” Thomas Edison called him “the equal of Washington in making American liberty possible.” He was a founder of both the United States and the French Revolution. He invented the phrase, “The United States of America.” He rose from abject poverty in working-class England to the highest levels of the era’s intellectual elite. And yet, by the end of his life, Thomas Paine was almost universally reviled. He had run afoul of Washington, broke with Robespierre and narrowly escaped the guillotine, and was all but exiled from his native England.

©2006 Craig Nelson (P)2006 Recorded Books, LLC

great book about a forgotten founding father

everyone should read or listen to this book to learn about a man the really influenced the founding of this country. a great man who's name has been intentionally forgotten for to long. the narration isn't the best, but the story more then males up for it,

Enlightening Biography

An enlightening biography, it started well, and became increasingly better. It is a book that one might call a "tour de force," as it is not only a fascinating biography of a fascinating life of Thomas Paine, but it is also highly informative about his times, serving as a valuable guide to the European enlightenment, the American and French Revolutions and the controversies of the day, and also the evolution of democracy in England. There are times when in listening to a historical biography that one feels one is getting distracted by personal minutiae which would be better not to know. But that wasn't the case in this book because the relevant history of the period was so adroitly integrated into the personal narrative of Thomas Paine. It is certainly a book worth listening to again. The narration was superb.

Democracy is fragile

The historical whitewashing of Thomas Paine tells us all we need to know about this country

Outstanding

I love this book. The author is a marvelous storyteller. it reads like an epic novel of a flawed and fabulous hero who has done so much for western society— American, French, and British history. It also shows how these societies— more flawed than fabulous— ruthlessly exploited him. This author’s sense of history reflects his unerring sense of humanity. I learned so much, not just facts, but how history is made. Big bonus that the narration is flawless!

This man should be a household name!

Craig Nelson knows how to tell a story. There are passages and scenes that are so riveting you almost think they are made up for dramatic effect. Why did my professors in college not mention this man?
Seems like bad PR followed Thomas Paine's name up until the present time. Nelson does a fine job at explaining why and how this happened, and for anyone who wants to get the whole story about the American Revolution, they simply must listen/read this book. You won't regret it! Then download Common Sense.