The American Revolution had been underway for over a year by the time the Declaration of Independence was signed in July 1776. There had been various military engagements fought between American and British soldiers during that time. While the initial fighting stemmed from the colonial rebellion against excessive taxes and other tyrannous acts committed on behalf of King George’s government, there lacked a unifying cause.

In January 1776, Thomas Paine provided a case for independence with the publication of Common Sense, a 47-page pamphlet that called out the inherent unfairness of monarchical government. His words lit the revolutionary fire inside the hearts of colonists by making clear that liberty was the only solution.

"TOM PAINE’S WAR is an engrossing and outstanding biography of the rabble-rousing freedom fighter and how his stirring words galvanized a nascent country."

Paine had been in America for a little over a year when he penned his moving and incendiary booklet. He was born into a hardworking clan from Thetford, a small town in Norfolk, England. As a British citizen, he was acquainted with the imbalance of justice enabled by the monarchy, as he witnessed proceedings of the courts of assize. Paine was the son of a Quaker who possessed a scientific mind and wasn’t averse to speaking up when he felt aggrieved. His life in England witnessed multiple hardships, from the tragic loss of his first wife during childbirth to the rapid dissolution of his second marriage after his fight to win higher wages for excisemen (tax collectors) proved futile. His misfortunes had him reevaluate his life, and he decided that a change was in order.

Paine journeyed across the Atlantic with money from his divorce and a recommendation letter from Benjamin Franklin. He arrived in December 1774 and was soon making an impact as an editor and frequent writer for The Pennsylvania Magazine. His exposure to the deteriorating situation in the colonies and his abhorrence of the ruling class stoked his ideas, which he began pouring into his manifesto. Less than two years later, Paine was a revolutionary not only in thought but also in practice as he was serving in the Continental Army as an aide to General Nathanael Greene.

The late summer and fall of 1776 saw the Americans with their backs to the wall against their opponents. In addition to losing Long Island and New York City, General George Washington had been forced to retreat altogether. If Britain’s General William Howe managed to flank and surround Washington’s forces, the war would have ended, and the cause of independence would have been lost.

Paine was an eyewitness to deadly bombardments from the British forces and their Hessian allies. He had seen the looks of the dispirited men who retreated amidst an enemy assault. However, Paine didn’t believe in giving up the cause, which led him to pen his next work, The American Crisis, beginning in December. His rhetoric would serve equally as inspiring as Common Sense, if not more so. His words, coupled with the Continental Army’s victory at the Battle of Trenton, buoyed the spirits of the men who would face an uphill climb over the ensuing seven years.

TOM PAINE’S WAR is an engrossing and outstanding biography of the rabble-rousing freedom fighter and how his stirring words galvanized a nascent country. Thomas Paine’s impact has been overshadowed by other contemporary figures of the Revolution. Thankfully, Jack Kelly’s excellent book allows Paine to be given his proper due, which proves even more significant with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence approaching in July 2026.

Kelly effectively elucidates how Paine appealed to the masses by communicating with them as equals and how taking arms should be done only with a purpose in mind. His ability to brilliantly shift the narrative tone allows each chapter to stand on its own, whether the section relates to Paine’s life story or Washington’s command of the Continental Army and the numerous leadership struggles he faced. Kelly has produced a significant historical work about both a remarkable man and the rebel movement he spurred on.