Tom Paine's War by Jack Kelly Book Review

About the Book:

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.

My Review:

I had heard of Tom Paine and his writings during US history in high school but had no idea of the man and the importance of his work. His Common Sense came at a crucial time and convinced colonists to make a break with England when many thought reconciliation was the ultimate future. I did not know that pamphlet contained the revolutionary claim that the concept of the divine right of kings was a fraud. Pain again published an important work, The American Crisis, when Washington was in retreat and the future looked bleak. The text is included in an Appendix.

I appreciate learning Paine's history, how his experiences in England set the stage for his criticism of their governing ways. He enlisted in the militia, putting action to his words. We are taken through to the end of his life when his reputation ended up tarnished.

Kelly has done tons of research and journal reading to present an account of the Revolutionary War that made me feel like I was in the midst of the action. This is a good book to read as the USA approaches celebrating 250 years of history. 

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Jack Kelly is an award-winning author and historian. He has published works of narrative nonfiction focusing on the Revolutionary War and early America. The New York Times called his writing “adrenaline in words.”

Jack has received the DAR History Medal and is a New York Foundation for the Arts fellow in Nonfiction Literature. He has written for many national publications, and has appeared on The History Channel, National Public Radio, and C-Span. He lives and works in New York’s Hudson Valley.

St. Martin's Press, 352 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)