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Tom Paine's War : The Words That Rallied A Nation And The Founder For Our Time / Jack Kelly.

Kelly, Jack, 1949- (author.).

Summary:

In 1776, one man's words--and the determination of American patriots--allowed our nation to survive its first crisis. "Exemplary... Kelly explains why Paine and his writing mattered 250 years ago and why they matter now." --Booklist (starred) Two hundred and fifty years ago, the Declaration of Independence marked the birth of the United States. But two essays of that era appealed even more directly to Americans' feelings. In January 1776, Thomas Paine--a recent immigrant to America --published Common Sense. His straightforward argument upended the fraud of monarchy and dismantled the idea of aristocratic privilege that had dominated the world for centuries. His words convinced Americans that the king had no divine right to rule them--they could rule themselves. He turned a rebellion over taxes and representation into a true Revolution. Having inspired patriots to declare their independence, Paine enlisted as a militia private. He saw Washington's army suffer grievous defeats. He slogged through the mud with retreating troops to Pennsylvania. There, he wrote The American Crisis, the most stirring rallying cry in our history. It began: "These are the times that try men's souls . . ." With Paine's words ringing in their ears, Washington and his men crossed the Delaware River and defeated the enemy at Trenton. The battle reversed the fortunes of the campaign and of the Revolution itself. A tribute to the Revolution's 250th anniversary, Tom Paine's War is a riveting exploration of our nation's birth. This is a story of the power of words--and the power of belief--and how both speak as well to America's current crisis.--from the inside front and back flaps

Record details

  • ISBN: 9781250331939
  • ISBN: 1250331935
  • Physical Description: xiii, 330 pages : illustrations, maps, portraits ; 25 cm
  • Edition: First edition.
  • Publisher: New York : St. Martin's Press, 2026.

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 293-319) and index.
Formatted Contents Note:
Author's note -- Timeline -- Maps: New York & New Jersey 1776 ; New Jersey 1776 ; Trenton, New Jersey, Area 1776 -- Prologue -- September 15-September 16, 1776 -- February 1737-November 1774 -- October 9-November 15, 1776 -- December 1774-July 1776 -- November 16-December 13, 1776 -- December 13-December 23, 1776 -- December 23, 1776-January 2, 1777 -- January 2, 1777-June 8, 1809 -- Epilogue -- Appendix: The American Crisis by Thomas Paine -- Acknowledgments -- Selected bibliography -- Notes -- Index.
Subject:
Paine, Thomas, 1737-1809. Common sense.
Paine, Thomas, 1737-1809. American crisis.
United States > History > Revolution, 1775-1783.
Genre:
Biographies.

Available copies

  • 17 of 22 copies available at NC Cardinal. (Show)
  • 0 of 1 copy available at Onslow County Public Library.

Holds

  • 0 current holds with 22 total copies.
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Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Status Due Date
Jacksonville Main Library 973.3 KEL (Text) 36015000774634 Adult New Nonfiction Checked out 08/12/2026

Accessibility Features

Summary: In 1776, one man's words--and the determination of American patriots--allowed our nation to survive its first crisis. "Exemplary... Kelly explains why Paine and his writing mattered 250 years ago and why they matter now." --Booklist (starred) Two hundred and fifty years ago, the Declaration of Independence marked the birth of the United States. But two essays of that era appealed even more directly to Americans' feelings. In January 1776, Thomas Paine--a recent immigrant to America --published Common Sense. His straightforward argument upended the fraud of monarchy and dismantled the idea of aristocratic privilege that had dominated the world for centuries. His words convinced Americans that the king had no divine right to rule them--they could rule themselves. He turned a rebellion over taxes and representation into a true Revolution. Having inspired patriots to declare their independence, Paine enlisted as a militia private. He saw Washington's army suffer grievous defeats. He slogged through the mud with retreating troops to Pennsylvania. There, he wrote The American Crisis, the most stirring rallying cry in our history. It began: "These are the times that try men's souls . . ." With Paine's words ringing in their ears, Washington and his men crossed the Delaware River and defeated the enemy at Trenton. The battle reversed the fortunes of the campaign and of the Revolution itself. A tribute to the Revolution's 250th anniversary, Tom Paine's War is a riveting exploration of our nation's birth. This is a story of the power of words--and the power of belief--and how both speak as well to America's current crisis.--from the inside front and back flaps