By Robert W. Morrell

THOMAS PAINE: A FIRST APPROACH by Hielio Osvaldo Alves. University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. 

In so far as I know, though I stand to be corrected, until this book appeared, no work of substance on Paine has appeared in Portugal, though I have seen references to some of Paine’s works being translated into Portuguese. 

This work is intended by its author, who is, incidentally, a member of the Thomas Paige Society, specifically for students at his university’s courses on English culture and society, the text being in English. 

Modest in approach to the subject, the book is divided into two distinct parts, the first an essay on Paine and the historical and cultural background; the second being long extracts from Common Sense and Rights of Man. Two chronological tables complete the work. 

Despite the restriction in use intended, I found the publication well written and very useful. I feel many people would benefit from it if generally available. There are a few printing errors, but they do not mar the book which, in the main, is very attractive and easy to handle. The frontis, I might add, is a reproduction of the T.P.S. reproduction of the famous Tharpe engraving of Thomas Paine.