Ben’s Book Club: ‘Thomas Paine and the Clarion Call for American Independence’ by Harlow Giles Unger

The book cover beside author photo.

Wednesday June 9 2021, 5pm BST/12pm ET. Register here. 

Join us for the June instalment of Ben’s Book Club, a monthly virtual gathering looking at themes relating to Benjamin Franklin, the 18th century, and American history. 

This month we will be talking to Harlow Giles Unger about his book ‘Thomas Paine and the Clarion Call for American Independence’, which chronicles how Thomas Paine became the most widely read political writer of his generation, proving that he was more than a century ahead of his time, conceiving and demanding unheard-of social reforms that are now integral elements of modern republican societies. 

An Englishman who emigrated to the American colonies, he formed close friendships with Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, and his ideas helped shape the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. 

Harlow Giles Unger is a veteran journalist, broadcaster, educator, and historian. He is the author of 27 books, including 10 biographies of the Founding Fathers—among them, Patrick Henry (Lion of Liberty); James Monroe (The Last Founding Father); the award winning Lafayette; and The Unexpected George Washington: His Private Life. 

You can purchase a hardcopy of Thomas Paine and the Clarion Call for American Independence’ here. 

Join us even if you don’t have a chance to read the book by the event date! 

This event is free of charge but please consider making an online donation here to support the work of Benjamin Franklin House.