Born in the U.S.A. (Bruce Springsteen)

History's Best Selling Books of 1791

1. Rights of Man

   Released in 1791 by Thomas Paine, J.S. Jordan

   Published in 1791, Thomas Paine's 'Rights of Man' emerged as a pivotal text in the heated intellectual and political debates surrounding the French Revolution. This work was not merely a commentary but a direct and forceful rebuttal to Edmund Burke's 'Reflections on the Revolution in France,' which had condemned the French upheaval. Paine's book became an immediate sensation, aligning American revolutionary ideals with the burgeoning global movement for democratic reform and individual liberty. Its publication ignited widespread public discussion, polarizing opinion between supporters of traditional order and proponents of radical change, thereby solidifying its place as a foundational document for modern republicanism and human rights.