This is a fascinating book about a fascinating man. Quite impressive put together with a multitude of great primary sources and vision. Here's the skinny: Franklin was a stud -- so read this book.

The layout of this "First Biographies" series is suitable for children in first to third grade, or for people just learning to read. The information presented on Franklin (and the other famous historical Americans) is fairly slim, but that's to be expected in book for first-timers. The information is simple and accurate, and easy to understand for those new students.

Benjamin Franklin lived such a long and productive life that it is really hard to do justice to him in a short biography, which is saying something because this volume in the Colonial Leaders series is not exactly short. I remember Franklin being described as the greatest President never to be President, and this juvenile biography by Bruce and Becky Durost Fish will certainly give young readers an indication of why this is the case. The book describes Franklin as American Statesman, Scientist, and Writer, which is essentially the reverse order of the major stages of his life.

We learn about how Franklin was a prime example of the self-made American, whose aptitude for printing and witty writing made him rich. This biography makes it clear that Franklin wanted not only a better life for himself, but for other people as well. He invented the Franklin stove and gave away the patent because it was a better way of heating homes, which was a public benefit. Students will learn a little about several of his inventions, as well as some of the things he wrote and the many diplomatic endeavors Franklin undertook for his country. The book is illustrated with historic paintings and etching of Franklin, as well as some of the key events of colonial times, and photographs of some of his inventions. Ultimately, this book can really only sketch out Franklin's life. But it does serve as a more than adequate introduction to his life for young readers.

Chronologically Franklin, along with Benjamin Banneker, is one of the last figure in the Colonial Leaders series, which starts with John Smith and William Bradford. There is a companion series of sorts which focuses on Revolutionary War Leaders from Benedict Arnold to George Washington (but without including John Adams as its most glaring omission).

In June of 1757 Benjamin Franklin embarked for London to serve as a agent for the Pennsylvania Assembly, returning to Philadelphia in 1762. In November of 1763 he returned to England, again as Assembly agent. Over the next few years he is appointed agent for the colonies of Georgia, New Jersey and Massachusetts, returning to the colonies in 1775. This book chronicles Franklin's years in London serving as colonial agent

"Makers of American Diplomacy," edited by Frank J. Merli and Theodore A. Wilson, collects 25 essays each of which focuses on a particular "maker." Here is the roll call: Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, John Quincy Adams, Charles Wilkes, James K. Polk, William Henry Seward, Hamilton Fish, James Gillespie Blaine, Alfred Thayer Mahan, Theodore Roosevelt, Willard D. Straight, Woodrow Wilson, James T. Shotwell, Henry L. Stinson, Stanley K. Hornbeck, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S Truman, Dean Acheson, George F. Kennan, John Foster Dulles, John F. Kennedy, J. William Fulbright, and Henry A. Kissinger. So we have nine Presidents, almost as many Secretaries of State, several political theorists, a couple of proponents of naval power, and Benjamin Franklin. When I read this book, actually the two paperback volumes, it was the supplemental reading for one of my American Diplomacy classes. The strength of these essays is that they see key moments in American diplomatic history as extensions of individual personalities. This would be very much in the Thomas Carlyle "hero in history" mode. Thus we understand American Destiny in terms of Seward, diplomatic activisim through the eyes of T.R., containment in terms of Truman, and balance of power in terms of Kissinger. As a supplemental text this is an excellent collection of essays that flesh out the history of American diplomacy in human terms.

The group of men who wrote the constitution of the United States comprised the greatest collection of political geniuses the world has ever seen. With incredible insight into the weaknesses of human political structures, the checks and balances in the constitution provide a system of counterweights that make up a very stable government. While not generally considered among the leading tier of the founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin was present at the creation and made significant contributions.
In many ways he is also a model for the American ideal of the self-made man. He rose from poverty to become a writer, editor, publisher, inventor, scientist and diplomat. He charmed many of the leading figures of France so much that it entered the war of independence on the side of the colonies. Granted that there were many reasons for France to come to the aid of America in its war with Britain. However, it is quite possible that it would not have happened without the expert diplomacy of Franklin.
This book is the result of a search through his private correspondence. Therefore, it is a description of his personality as he communicates with friends, business and diplomatic colleagues; relatives and acquaintances. It appears that Franklin was quite a ladies man as well. There are hints that he had numerous affairs, although given the style of his letters, it is possible that his high degree of politeness could be mistaken for something deeper. The results depict a man very much of the world, one where life was slower and personal relationships were more significant.
It is unfortunate that political rivalries and geopolitical realities combined to lower his standing after the military victory that led to independence. Disputes arose with George Washington and John Adams that were no doubt political in origin. Franklin had both the domestic and international prestige to be considered presidential material, with only his advanced age as a hindrance.
The real problems were the geopolitical and geosocial realities. America was an offshoot of British culture, so once the severance was complete the natural affinity reasserted itself. Britain was also the supreme maritime power and America was a small nation consisting mostly of seacoast and the Canadian colony was on the northern border. Therefore, friendship with Britain was essential to the survival of the new nation. Franklin represented an alliance that was no longer critical, so as the political wind shifted, he found himself pushed aside. Until I read this book, I was unaware of the animosities that existed between Franklin and some of the other founders of the new nation.
Benjamin Franklin is the American model of the Renaissance man and his contributions to the success of the revolution are not to be underestimated. In reading the summaries of his personal correspondence, I found it clear that he is a person that you would have liked very much to converse with and would have considered yourself graced to have been his friend.

How confusing it is separate Anais' life from her books--or is that the worst one could do to her? The sticking point to a critical understanding of Anais Nin has always been the (incestuous?!) relationship between life and art, diary and fiction. Its especially confusing now that all the truths (or half of them?) are revealed bit by bit in the "unexpurgated" diaries. Is Anais a bigamist? A nymphomaniac? A compulsive liar? Can't she be, and a genius, too? This book has been critical to helping me get my head together about Anais Nin, one of the late twentieth century's most important novelists.

Campbell, a professor of philosophy at the University of Toledo, is one of America's foremost experts on the development of the philosophy of pragmatism. In this book, he has carried his studies on that development into what one may call its fetal period -- the pre-pragmatism of Ben Franklin. The essential insight of pragmatism, and of Franklin, Campbell tells, us, is that the "search for wisdom" cannot be understood aside from the effort to "advance human well-being."

This is a wonderful book, and it brings alive the leading ideas of the generation of the founding fathers in a way few other recent books have!

I have always been fascinated with General Benjamin Butler both because of the story of his ill fated term as military governor of New Orleans during the Civil War and because of his physical image. The photographs always show someone who seems to be a grotesque characature of a human being rather than a real person, somehow appropriate for a man known as 'the Beast of New Orleans'. This book is significant not only for its detailed account of the conflicts and controversy that surrounded Butler during his time in New Orleans, but also for providing enough complementary material to see him as more than an evil abberation. The author does detail the evidence for Butler's depredations - his thefts, corruptions and overzelous application of lethal force - but also provides ample evidence that he was a complex and sometimes thoughtful person as well. In one case, he condemns a man to be hung because he had pulled down the union flag. The man's wife and children go to Butler to plead for his life. He refuses to stop the hanging but promises to be of whatever assistance he can be in the future. Years later the widow approaches him to say that she has been cheated by her lawyer out of her life savings and that she and her children are in jeapordy. Butler finds her a government job and, at his own expense, sees to the children's education. A very complex 'devil' indeed.

For those who enjoy new light cast upon old oversimplified history, this book is excellent. Well written and with a lot that is new to say, this book represents a chance to actually learn something new rahter than simply revisiting the old story.

Benjamin Franklin's life is one of the most fascinating in American life--he was a diplomat, legislator, printer and scientist. In this admittedly short biography in an admittedly crowded field (there have been a handful of similar books published in recent years), Edmund Morgan attempts to give us an impression of the character of the man.

He starts with his athleticism, moves on to his views of religion and morals, and so on. Those who are unfamiliar with the factual details of Franklins life will be confused by the sudden appearance of details: Referring to his wife, Morgan writes: "He spent the last ten years of her life away from her in London." This comes as a shock as we haven't yet been told he spent so much time in the mother country.

Morgan readily admits that the work is based largely on a recent compilation of Franklin documents on disk ("...and not much else")and doesn't offer original research.

In sum, this becomes a difficult book to read and cannot be recommended except perhaps as an adjunct to Franklin-devotees who've already finished reading several more orthodox biographies.

Edmund S. Morgan is without a doubt one of American's greatest living historians. He is very worthy of the title, as is made evident in the pages of Benjamin Franklin. Morgan manages to give a very insightful look at one of the most interesting Founding Fathers in a book half the size of most Franklin biographies. As Gordon S. Wood wrote on the back cover of the book, "This is the best short biography of Franklin ever written". You would be hard pressed to disagree with him.

You take certain themes from this well written book. One is a total admiration of the man. This is a very subject positive story, as it should be. Franklin was extremely smart, not some storied tinkerer in lightning. Franklin's experiments were recognized world wide as serious steps in scientific achievement. He could speak several languages and was a veracious reader and writer. He also had a wonderful sense of civic duty. It seemed that wherever he went, Franklin strove to improve his surroundings, for himself and his neighbors. Libraries and fire departments all owe some of their origin to Franklin.

The man was also extremely charming. On his many trips around the world, he cultivated an almost cult like following. He was such a friendly fellow that people from all around the globe did anything to get an audience or share a meal with him. Franklin's infidelities are hinted at, but they are not sorid or outrageous. Most of them are unproven anyway.

Only trailing Washington, Franklin should be given the most credit for the independence of the 13 colonies and then the formation of the United States. Franklin managed to squeeze millions and millions of dollars from the already cash strapped French, with later on proved disastrous for Louis XVI. This money and aid was a necessity in winning the war. Also very interesting is how much Franklin loved England. Up until the very end, Franklin was desperate to keep the two countries together in some form of union. Only after the amazingly arrogant actions of the English government did he see that the only answer was independence.

Great writing, wonderful research, and a fascinating subject. What else could you want?

Another superb book from Edmund Morgan. While there are other bios of Franklin on the market at twice the size, Professor Morgan's concise treatment of the man's life tells a story in the best sense of that word. You learn about Franklin & come to understand this complicated man as best we can. While there are dozens of major events going on during his lifetime, Morgan mentions them but doesn't waste the reader's time going into unncessary detail. Those are best left for other books.

Morgan's always been known for the quality of his writing and making history come alive with passion and pathos. An even greater skill of the author is being able to write concisely; each word counts for something.

Anyone interested in learning about the great man, Dr. Franklin, should read Morgan's book and become captivated by the man, the story, and the unique character of our remarkable country.