Tom Paine’s War by Jack Kelly

Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for Tom Paine’s War:

Tommy P could really get people riled up with that quill.

Quick synopsis:

The story of Thomas Paine through his writings and the battle of New York during the revolution.

Fact for Non-History People:

Thomas Paine dropped out of school at age 12.

Fact for History Nerds:

Before becoming a writer, he was a corset maker, tax collector (ha!), school teacher, and privateer.

My Take on Tom Paine’s War:

I am so used to subtitles being throw away words that I was caught off guard by Jack Kelly’s Tom Paine’s War. I mean in a good way!

While expecting a biography of Tom Paine, Kelly decides to root Paine and his words at the very beginning of the fighting in the Revolutionary War. Washington and his army have moved on from Boston and the mostly disastrous New York phase of the war is about to begin. Kelly proceeds to walk the reader through this tactical battles (with an appearance by personal favorite Joseph Plumb Martin) while placing Paine as a spiritual architect to what is happening (and will happen).

Kelly does give some background for Paine and explains how he came to be the author of the Revolution and how impactful his work was. I do think this book works best for people unfamiliar with Paine and especially with the tactical realities of the revolution.

(This book was provided as an advance reader copy by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press.)

Verdict:

An old tale with a new twist. Buy it here!

If You Liked This Try:

• Nathaniel Philbrick, Bunker Hill and Valiant Ambition
• Ron Chernow, George Washington and Alexander Hamilton
• Stacy Schiff, The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams
• Thomas B. Allen, Tories
• James Kirby Martin, Benedict Arnold: Revolutionary Hero