Theological, Miscellaneous and Poetical Works of Thomas Paine, with Letter to Washington

What it is

This is an 1844 collected volume of writings by Thomas Paine, including theological and political works along with his letter to George Washington and letters to American citizens after years abroad. It is held by Cornell University Library and digitized by the Internet Archive.

Why it matters

The letter to Washington is especially revealing: it shows Paine, once closely tied to the American cause, expressing grievances against its most famous leader. Collections like this preserved Paine's own words for later generations, mixing his religious, political and poetic writing in one volume.

Look closer

• Why might Paine have felt it necessary to write publicly to George Washington about his grievances?
• What does combining Paine's theological and political writings in one book suggest about how readers saw him?
• What is missing if we only read Paine's own account of his quarrel with Washington?