Scott Cleary
Co-editor of New Directions in Thomas Paine Studies and author specializing in 18th-century literature and Paine's writings, offering literary and historical analysis of Common Sense.
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Feb 12, 2026 • 57min
Thomas Paine and the 250th Anniversary of Common Sense
Scott Cleary, an 18th-century literature scholar, and Gary Berton, president of the Thomas Paine Historical Association, discuss Thomas Paine's life and the 250th anniversary of Common Sense. They explore how Paine’s plain, emotional language mobilized ordinary readers. They trace his influence on independence, his political training, networks that spread the pamphlet, and later controversies around his reputation.
