In "Tom Paine," John Keane crafts a riveting portrait of the enigmatic figure whose writings thundered across the landscapes of America and France, shaping the contours of democracy. Paine, a man of paradoxes, emerges from the pages not just as the infamous pamphleteer known for his incendiary works—Common Sense, The Rights of Man, and The Age of Reason—but as a flesh-and-blood individual navigating the tumultuous currents of the late eighteenth century. Keane's narrative is a masterful blend of the vibrant public persona and the intricate, often obscure private life of a man whose ideas ignited revolutions. Set against the backdrop of pre-revolutionary America and the French Revolution, this award-winning biography is a testament to John Keane's scholarly rigor and storytelling prowess. Through meticulous research and a compelling narrative style, Keane resurrects Paine in all his complexity, presenting a figure who is at once familiar and startlingly revolutionary. This definitive biography does not merely recount the life of a man who profoundly shaped the modern age; it invites readers to reflect on the power of words to change the world, making "Tom Paine" an essential read for anyone fascinated by the forces that have shaped our democratic ideals.