The Politics of English Jacobinism: Writings of John Thelwall

After Thomas Paine fled to France in 1792, John Thelwall was the most important leader of working—class radicalism in Britain. According to one observer, he was "one of the boldest political writers, speakers, and lecturers of his time." But his contribution to social and political thought has been underappreciated by modern historians of political thought.

In this volume, Gregory Claeys attempts to restore Thelwall to his rightful place by reproducing for the first time his major political...