The Age of Reason (Writings of Thomas Paine, #4) (Cambridge Library Collection - Philosophy) (Cosimo Classics History)

by Thomas Paine

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Thomas Paine plays the ace and brings the house of cards down: the wizard behind the curtain is dead, the emperor has no clothes.

Don’t be mistaken, this would be shocking if it were written today. But no, incredibly, this was the eighteenth century, before modern scholarship, in the depths of scientific anthropocentrism and Biblical literalism. “If only,” 200 years later, with what we now know— but here’s America, trying to write Thomas Paine out of history books and cover up the trace.

Here’s the kicker, though: it’s split to Part I and Part II due to Paine’s imprisonment during the French Revolution. The Age of Reason was both his urgent final words and his urgent first.

Lest I just start repeating praises that have already been sung, here’s the review that nails the home run.