About this episode

The episode features a reading of George Ford Smith's essay on Tom Paine, exploring his legacy as a champion of liberty and the reasons for his vilification.

Why did one of America's greatest champions of liberty become one of its most hated figures? To accompany our recent reading of Common Sense and my conversation with George Ford Smith, I'm pleased to share this reading of his outstanding essay, "Tom Paine, Liberty's Hated Torchbearer." Remembered as one of the architects of American independence, Paine's story didn't end with Common Sense. George traces Paine's journey from the man whose words ignited a revolution to the political and cultural outcast who was smeared, abandoned, and largely erased from the nation's memory. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Monica Perez

Guest: George Ford Smith

Topics covered

• liberty
• American independence
• historical figures
• political outcasts
• revolutionary ideas

Keywords

• Tom Paine
• liberty
• George Ford Smith
• Common Sense
• American history
• political outcast
• revolution

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Tom Paine, Liberty's Hated Torchbearer, Common Sense

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