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The Life of Benjamin Franklin #1
The Life of Benjamin Franklin, Volume 1: Journalist, 1706-1730
Named "one of the best books of 2006" by "The New York Sun"
Described by Carl Van Doren as "a harmonious human multitude," Benjamin Franklin was the most famous American of his time, of perhaps any time. His life and careers were so varied and successful that he remains, even today, the epitome of the self-made man. Born into a humble tradesman's family, this adaptable genius rose to become an architect of the world's first democracy, a leading light in Enlightenment science, and a major creator of what has come to be known as the American character. Journalist, musician, politician, scientist, humorist, inventor, civic leader, printer, writer, publisher, businessman, founding father, and philosopher, Franklin is a touchstone for America's egalitarianism.
The first volume traces young Franklin's life to his marriage in 1730. It traces the New England religious, political, and cultural contexts, exploring previously unknown influences on his philosophy and writing, and attributing new writings to him. After his move to Philadelphia, made famous in his "Autobiography," Franklin became the Water American in London in 1725, where he was welcomed into that city's circle of freethinkers. Upon his return to the colonies, the sociable Franklin created a group of young friends, the Junto, devoted to self-improvement and philanthropy. He also started his own press and began to edit and publish the "Pennsylvania Gazette," which became the most popular American paper of its day and the first to consistently feature American news.
Described by Carl Van Doren as "a harmonious human multitude," Benjamin Franklin was the most famous American of his time, of perhaps any time. His life and careers were so varied and successful that he remains, even today, the epitome of the self-made man. Born into a humble tradesman's family, this adaptable genius rose to become an architect of the world's first democracy, a leading light in Enlightenment science, and a major creator of what has come to be known as the American character. Journalist, musician, politician, scientist, humorist, inventor, civic leader, printer, writer, publisher, businessman, founding father, and philosopher, Franklin is a touchstone for America's egalitarianism.
The first volume traces young Franklin's life to his marriage in 1730. It traces the New England religious, political, and cultural contexts, exploring previously unknown influences on his philosophy and writing, and attributing new writings to him. After his move to Philadelphia, made famous in his "Autobiography," Franklin became the Water American in London in 1725, where he was welcomed into that city's circle of freethinkers. Upon his return to the colonies, the sociable Franklin created a group of young friends, the Junto, devoted to self-improvement and philanthropy. He also started his own press and began to edit and publish the "Pennsylvania Gazette," which became the most popular American paper of its day and the first to consistently feature American news.
568 pages, Hardcover
First published October 12, 2005
About the author
J.A. Leo Lemay
24 books2 followersCommonly known as "Leo Lemay," J. A. Leo Lemay was du Pont Winterthur Professor of English at the University of Delaware. He was best known as one of the nation's leading scholars on Benjamin Franklin, though he wrote on many topics, including Edgar Allan Poe, Ebenezer Cooke, and Joel Barlow. Among his honors were a Guggenheim fellowship, a National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship, a Huntington Library fellowship, grants from the American Philosophical Society and Colonial Williamsburg and being named a Distinguished Scholar of Early American Literature by the Early American Literature Group of the Modern Language Association.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 28, 2012
For the serious Franklinphile, Historian J. A. Leo Lemay wrote an exhaustive series of biographies, The Life of Benjamin Franklin Volume 1, Volume 2, and Volume 3. The last book brings us only to 1757. Unfortunately the author died before he could write the next books completing Franklin's life. I am finishing the second book now, and I am most looking forward to reading about his scientific and military accomplishments in volume 3. The level of detail is just amazing. Each 500 to 700 page book takes the reader slowly along Franklin's life. If you are interested in colonial era politics, business, printing/publishing, or military history, then you will appreciate the great depth of Lamay's writing.
December 8, 2023
Be warned, this book is not for the casually interested in Franklin! Franklin's Autobiography is probably the best introduction to him, followed by Van Doren's one-volume book which is a little dry and academic but certainly serviceable. This is volume one of three volumes and Lemay spends a lot of time analyzing the writings of Franklin. This makes sense for this volume because the little we have about Franklin from this time is mostly gleaned from printings in his newspaper with very sparse commentary from about 30 pages of his Autobiography.
I would not call this fascinating reading but it definitely shed some more light on Franklin's persona. He was a very talented individual, becoming one of the leading writers in America, on a wide variety of topics, and owner of a newspaper. All in his early twenties! I think many have had a tendency to gloss over Franklin's irreligious views but Lemay certainly doesn't. Indeed he may often read the irreligious into Franklin's writings more than is there but it is absolutely clear that Franklin was no Christian and may not even have been a deist. He follows his own moral code and seems to think himself superior to the rest of humanity. He may have learned more humility in his later years or he might just have gotten better at pretending it. Definitely a fascinating and talented individual.
I would not call this fascinating reading but it definitely shed some more light on Franklin's persona. He was a very talented individual, becoming one of the leading writers in America, on a wide variety of topics, and owner of a newspaper. All in his early twenties! I think many have had a tendency to gloss over Franklin's irreligious views but Lemay certainly doesn't. Indeed he may often read the irreligious into Franklin's writings more than is there but it is absolutely clear that Franklin was no Christian and may not even have been a deist. He follows his own moral code and seems to think himself superior to the rest of humanity. He may have learned more humility in his later years or he might just have gotten better at pretending it. Definitely a fascinating and talented individual.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews