Thomas Paine's Rights of Man: A Historical Biography

Salvatore F. Allosso: There is nothing to dislike in this appreciation of Paine, a bold and honest man, by Hitchens, an equally bold and incisive reader and writer. Americans who still read can learn much about one of the significant Founders who had no other agenda than human rights.

United States on May 13, 2023

Robert Daniel Johnson: Thomas Paine has one of the most incredible life stories of any significant historical figure. And yet it's rendered here in convoluted, constricted prose. Each sentence with a built-in speed bump determined to stop all flow if possible. I gave up about 3/4 of the way through the book after suffering through the main bio, just before he got around to discussing The Rights of Man. This is my first experience reading Hitchens and will be my last.

United States on Feb 25, 2023

Interested Buyer: I was absolutely intrigued by the manner of Hitchen's writing. I brought together so many loose ends for me. Well written.

Canada on Aug 17, 2021

Amazon Customer: Hitchens and Paine both inspired intellects whose work I enjoy very much. Sorely missed and forever immortalised through reason and logic

United Kingdom on May 18, 2021

james cetnar: I find ( at least so far ) that any book written by Christopher Hitchens is very well thought out and presented . His research is phenomenal and his overall knowledge is amazing . I was tempted to dig out a dictionary to look up some of the words he uses because I didn't know that they existed , even so if you have a grasp of the passage leading up to such words , you can decipher what he meant . Thomas Paine should be honored at least as much as our other founding fathers .

United States on Dec 17, 2020

Raisuli the Magnificent: I'm a big Hitchens fan, but I really wish some American history scholar had done this work instead of my favorite atheist. Hitchens drives home the point as he reads about the life and works of Thomas Paine, and where one does get a sense of Hitchens' own social values, one becomes curious why he didn't also Locke, Hobbes, Jefferson or even Benjamin Franklin.

Even so, I do wish Hitchens had not passed on, or at least done more audio books with his own voice before succumbing to cancer. The work feels a bit of tone to me because it is Hitchens narrating a work of American history, but at the same time it is rather befitting both him and the work itself. It's one of those strange dichotomy's that has both at odds and synching with one another as the work unfolds.

Give it a listen.

United States on Feb 07, 2017

Patrick Sullivan: Thomas Paine`s Rights Of Man was written, during a massive transformation of society. The feudal society was collapsing and being replaced by the nation state. The historic rights of the ruling class were being over thrown. This was a massive upheaval in society. This of course produced many debates, on how to best run a society.

Hitchens attempts to examine the thinking process, that was taking place during Paine`s life. Paine outlines, what he feels will produce a free and prosperous society. Hitchens compares and contrasts Paine`s outlooks. The best chapter was the comparison of Thomas Paine and Edmund Burke. Both men outlined, what they felt were societies best step forward. Burke believed; many of the older institutions like the monarchy, should be maintained. Paine wanted a completely new order for society.

Personally, I believe freedom to be a very precious commodity. It`s important to understand, what enables a society to be free. This book provided some good insights, into the foundations of a free society.

Canada on Jul 27, 2015

deenagh miller: Am halfway through - it gets better in the middle - at least for me. Raises some of the most relevant & serious issues concerning all societies - of humans. Need to finish it to give a thorough review. Ask me in a few weeks time, I need to re read it, its a dense and demanding subject, & has prompted me to read books by both Paine & Burke ....& Christopher.

United Kingdom on Jul 10, 2015

Edward B. Crutchley: Who better than the acerbic Christopher Hitchens to write this account? Memories of his heated debates, his frequently coming across as over-opinionated and arrogant, but often right, bring life to a subject in a way that few others could achieve. This short book has a formidable cast of characters, notably names such as Burke, Franklin, Jefferson, Lafayette, Napoleon, Robespierre, Washington, and Wordsworth. As a prime example, Paine’s position is made clearer by comparing it with Burke. An inspiring read.

United Kingdom on Jun 02, 2015

Bucherwurm: This pint size book provides some interesting commentary on the writings of Thomas Paine. Although it is also a mini biography, it is foremost a tale of the verbal battle between Paine and Edmund Burke who wrote a criticism of the French revolution entitled "Reflections on the Revolution in France."

Paine always spoke his mind. His fiery remarks helped spark the American revolution, and later, in France, he so freely vented his opinions on what the French should be doing that he was thrown into prison, and narrowly escaped execution. Paine was vastly irritated by Burke (who deplored the French revolution), and was prompted to do a 19th century version of flaming.

Thomas Paine wasn't the only one irked by Englishman Burke. Jefferson wrote about him to a friend of his discussing the "rottenness of his (Burke's) mind." How else should a new American feel about Burke's glorification of the aristocracy and scruffy put-down of the rights of citizens. It is both informative, and entertaining to read about this famous debate between Burke and Paine.

I feel obliged to add John Barrell wrote a very negative review of this book in the London Review of Books. He accuses...

United States on Sep 01, 2007