Thomas Paine
"A lively discussion of the life and writings of one of the premier revolutionaries of the eighteenth century. [Ayer's] chapters alternate between the externals of Paine's life and career in England, America, and France and analyses of Common Sense, The Rights of Man, The Age of Reason , other significant but less well known writings, and Paine's anticipations of the welfare state."— History: Reviews of New Books "[An] exciting book about Paine's life and principles."—Christopher Hitchens, Newsday