Remarks on the Pretensions of Thomas Paine to the character of a poet

What it is

This is a scanned page from a bound volume that carries the heading 'Thomas Paine.' Its title is Remarks on the Pretensions of Thomas Paine, Author of Common Sense, to the Character of a Poet. The printed text discusses Paine's poetry and quotes lines from 'The Castle in the Air' and a verse beginning 'In the region of clouds where the whirlwinds arise.' The page is held by the Wellcome Collection. The record gives no exact date for the article.

Why it matters

Paine is best known as a political writer, and his pamphlet Common Sense helped rally support for American independence. This article is a period judgment of a different part of his reputation: whether he deserved to be called a poet. Such reviews show how readers and critics of the time separated political writing from literary merit. They also show that Paine's fame was debated, not simply accepted.

Look closer

• What standard is the critic using to decide whether Paine is a poet, and what does that standard leave out?
• Which quoted lines does the writer choose, and how does the choice shape the reader's view?
• Who would have read this magazine, and why might they care about Paine's reputation?