Tom Paine’s War: The Words That Rallied a Nation and the Founder for Our Time

Award-winning author and historian Jack Kelly on his new book, "Tom Paine's War: The Words That Rallied a Nation and the Founder for Our Time". Jack Kelly will give an in-person talk based on his book - an “exploration of our nation’s birth…a story of the power of words, and the power of belief, and how both speak as well to America’s current crisis.” 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. Having inspired patriots to declare their independence, Paine volunteered as a militia private. He saw George Washington’s army suffer grievous defeats, and 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. Register here.