Written in 1791 simply because a response to Edmund Burke’s Reflections around the Revolution in France, Thomas Paine’s Rights of Man is a seminal work on individual freedom and equality. Using the French Revolution and its own ideals as an example, he demonstrates his belief that any government must put the natural privileges of its people most of all, especially politics. After its publication, Paine left Britain for France and was tried in his absence for libel against the crown. Authoritatively read by David Rintoul.