Common Sense and Related Writings: (The Bedford Series in History and Culture)

Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" is one of the most important primary documents of the Revolutionary era. This edition of the pamphlet includes selections from Paine's other writings from 1775 and 1776 - additional essays that contextualize "Common Sense" provide unusual insight on both the writer and the cause for which he wrote. The volume introduction focuses on Paine's childhood and early adult years in England, arguing for the significance of personal experience, environment, career, and religion in understanding Paine's influential political writings. The volume also includes a glossary, a chronology, illustrations, a selected bibliography, and questions for consideration.

Table of Contents:
Foreword.- Preface.- A Note on the texts.- PART I: INTRODUCTION: THOMAS PAINE'S AMERICA.- Young Tom Paine.- Growing up.- Excise man.- Passages.- Slavery.- British Army.- Marriage and Women.- Common Sense.- Publication and circulation.- Equality.- The Bible.- Ideas.- Propaganda.- The Forester.- Radical politics.- An American Crisis.- Thomas Paine's future.- PART II: DOCUMENTS.- 'African Slavery in America'.- 'A Serious Thought'.- 'A Dialogue between General Wolfe and General Gage in a Wood near Boston'.- 'Thoughts on a Defensive War'.- 'Reflections on Unhappy Marriages'.- 'An Occasional Letter on the Female Sex'.- Common Sense 'The Forester', number 1.- An American Crisis, number 1.- APPENDICES .- A Thomas Paine.- Chronology.- Questions for Consideration.- Selected Bibliography.- Index.

About the Author :
THOMAS P. SLAUGHTER is Professor of History at Rutgers University. He has written three prize-winning books and his books have won the National Historical Society Prize, the American Revolution Round Table Award, the Society of the Cincinnati Award, and the New Jersey Council for the Humanities Distinguished Author Award. He is a former fellow of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioural Sciences, the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation and the Shelby Cullom Davis Center

Review :
'This is an excellent manuscript that should be a very attractive book for students in American history courses. Not only does Tom Slaughter do a brilliant job in the introduction in making Paine out to be a very believable, human, though flawed person, but also he does a masterful job in helping the reader understand the process through which Paine became radicalized. In addition, Slaughter has made an excellent selection of Paine's essays that round out a picture of an intriguing, but lesser know, American revolutionary.' - James Roger Sharp, Syracuse University 'This short volume constitutes the best available edition of Thomas Paine's most important writings during the American Revolutionary era. Tom Slaughter's superb introduction presents in a clear and lucid fashion much of the information necessary to enable readers to comprehend the writings and life of Tom Paine. By grounding Paine's political ideas in his daily experiences, Slaughter has offered a fresh interpretation of one of the most enigmatic figures in early America.' - Billy G. Smith, Montana State University 'Professor Slaughter's introductory essay does an excellent job of explaining Paine's background, as well as both the intellectual and practical experiences that informed Paine's work. This book will provide an engaging and effective way for teachers to introduce Thomas Paine and his writings to their students.' - Rebecca Shoemaker, Indiana State University 'Common Sense is one of the seminal documents of the revolutionary era. Slaughter explains its historical context, shows its relationship to some of Paine's lesser known writings (including pieces on women and slavery), and offers a valuable set of interpretative questions, making the work accessible to a broad student population.' - Rosemarie Zagarri, George Mason University