Description

Rights of Man was written by Thomas Paine in 1791 as a reply to Reflections on the Revolution in France by Edmund Burke. It has been interpreted as a work defending the French Revolution, but it is also a seminal work embodying the ideas of liberty and human equality. Since the ideas are presented in fragments, the book is somewhat inchoate. Paine's lack of a holistic approach may be attributed to the fact that the book was written in two parts. That Paine was one of the greatest pamphleteers of his age is evident from the vigorous approach to writing, and despite the humour that alleviates his sarcastic tone, the Rights of Man is undoubtedly one of the most serious works influencing generations of liberal believers in democracy.