Paine: The Lecture
Taking Paine further
Although it's allowed him to become forgotten in the country of his birth, the passage of time has means Paine's work has come out of copyright - find the links and more advice for taking Paine further.
The man of rights
From the Town Council in Lewes to national hero in France and America is quite a journey - discover more about the philosophy and life of Thomas Paine.
Sylvia Pankhurst: the lecture
The one who wanted more than just a poll card every four years, Mark traces the route of Sylvia Pankhurst from suffrage to Ethiopia.
Find out more about Thomas Paine in this programme from the BBC/OU Mark Steel Lectures.
Surely Britain’s greatest unknown international revolutionary, best-selling author and hobbyist bridge builder, Norfolk born corset-maker’s son Thomas Paine wrote the Rights of Man and helped inspire the American War of Independence.
Thereafter he became the Secretary for Foreign Affairs in a government that hated his country of birth. He then went to France and escaped the guillotine by accident, after having failed to sell a bridge he built over a field in London.
One of Mark Steel’s great unsung radical heroes, this comedy lecture series shines a light on a little known (in Britain) hero on two continents.
Filmed on British and French soil.
Content last updated: 06/10/2004
