The Associates of the Boston Public Library is proud to present this free production of To Begin the World Over Again: The Life of Thomas Paine, as the fourth show in the annual Pierce Performance Series. This one-man show, written and performed by Ian Ruskin, features excerpts of Paine’s incendiary writings that sparked the American and French Revolutions.

There will be three performances:

• November 1st at 10 AM - in-person matinee at the BPL (RSVP via this link)
• November 2nd at 6 PM - in-person evening show at the BPL, with an introduction by Thomas Patterson from the Harvard Kennedy School (RSVP via this link)
• November 3rd-9th - pre-recorded virtual presentation (a link to the performance will be provided to everyone who signs up for the virtual performance)

Through his portrayal of this pivotal patriot, Ian Ruskin will provide audiences with an intimate insight into Paine’s life and his important role in bringing about revolutionary changes in the world. The play’s period costuming and props, the soundtrack of original music by Joe Romano, and the sound effects by Keith Robinson will add immediacy and intimacy to Ruskin's powerful performance. The film version of this production, directed by legendary filmmaker Haskell Wexler, aired on PBS for several years.

For more information please see our Pierce Performance website.

The Play

To Begin the World Over Again: the Life of Thomas Paine is the very personal story of one of history’s most misunderstood men. He moved through the world challenging the dogma and superstitions that had ruled the lives of the masses for centuries, and embracing the Age of Enlightenment.

Thomas Paine was one of the world’s greatest writers, but worst politicians. With strokes of his pen, Paine inspired the American Revolution, defined the French Revolution, and championed reason as the basis for our beliefs and morality. It was Paine’s writings in short, simple sentences, understood by those masses, which changed the world. Excerpts from his great works are read throughout the play, and elicit gasps from audiences because they are so alive and relevant today.

And this is a story of history made out of blood and toil, of disasters when the timing is off and triumphs when it falls into place, and of happenings that would be hard to believe, were they not actually true. And through it all Paine maintained an optimism that we could actually “begin the world over again”.

The play will leave you with a new understanding of the revolutions and the search for enlightenment that forged the world that we live in today.

Ian Ruskin

Actor, writer, and independent scholar, Ian Ruskin trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and worked for 15 years in repertory companies, London’s West End, television and film. Moving to Los Angeles in 1985, Ian guest starred in episodic television such as She Wrote, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, and MacGyver. His lifelong interest in social justice led him to found The Harry Bridges Project in 2000, where he produced two radio documentaries and wrote the one-man play From Wharf Rats to Lords of the Docks: The Life and Time of Harry Bridges about labor leader Harry Bridges. With the assistance of a COLA (City of Los Angeles) Fellowship, Ruskin wrote To Begin the World Over Again: The Life of Thomas Paine, continuing his mission to present the stories of forgotten and misunderstood heroes from American and European history. Both plays were filmed and directed by Academy Award winner, Haskell Wexler, and aired on PBS for several years. Past performances of the Bridges and Paine plays include the English and Scottish Parliaments in London and Edinburgh, Faneuil Hall in Boston, Joe’s Pub at the Public Theatre in New York, Grand Performances in Los Angeles, The American Philosophical Society in Philadelphia, and The Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro. Ruskin has also created a radio documentary A Wild Woman Sings the Blues about the life and work of Barbara Dane, and a one-man play about “the man who invented the 20th century,” Nikola Tesla, Magic and Lightning: into the Mind of Nikola Tesla. To learn more, visit Ruskin Productions.

John Adams' Copy of Paine's Common Sense

Deposited with the Boston Public Library in 1894, the John Adams Library includes over 2,700 volumes collected by the second president during his lifetime (1735-1826) as well as hundreds of additional books later donated by his family members. One of the greatest private collections of its day, the books spans the fields of classics, literature, history, politics, government, philosophy, religion, law, science, mathematics, medicine, agriculture, language and linguistics, economics, and travel. The collection is of particular interest to scholars and historians because Adams recorded thousands of interpretive and critical manuscript annotations in the margins of his books.

One of the gems in this collections is Adams' personal copy of Thomas Paine's Common Sense. The entire book has been digitized and can be read here.

Associates of the Boston Public Library is an independent nonprofit dedicated to preserving the Boston Public Library’s Special Collections of rare books, manuscripts, prints, photographs, musical scores and other items of literary, historic and cultural importance. The Associates makes grants to ensure continued public access to these irreplaceable treasures by underwriting their conservation, cataloging, digitization, and exhibition. Through these efforts, the Associates aims to help the BPL fulfill its most essential mission of providing top quality, free educational resources to the public, as well as preserving knowledge, culture, and history for the benefit of all.

The Associates' Pierce Performance Series seeks to raise the visibility of the Boston Public Library’s Special Collections through free public performances and lectures. Thanks to the generosity of the Harold Whitworth Pierce Charitable Trust this series has commemorated the hundredth anniversary of the Peace Jubilee, explored abolitionists' vital messages, and celebrated women's suffrage. We are excited that our fourth annual performance will highlight the life of Thomas Paine.