The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin
Inventor, author, printer, scientist, politician, diplomat—all these terms do not even begin to fully describe the amazing and multitalented, Benjamin Franklin who was of course also one of the Founding Fathers of America...
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Inventor, author, printer, scientist, politician, diplomat—all
these terms do not even begin to fully describe the amazing and
multitalented, Benjamin Franklin who was of course also one of the
Founding Fathers of America. At the age of 75, in 1771 he began
work on what he called his Memoirs. He was still working on it when
he died in 1790 and it was published posthumously, entitled An
Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. The book had a complicated and
controversial publication history. Strangely enough, the first
volume only was first published in French, in Paris in 1791. Later
in 1793 a couple of English translations appeared containing the
second volume as well. In 1818 Franklin's grandson brought out a
three volume edition, which left out the last unfinished fourth
volume. William Temple Franklin also took great liberties with the
text and made his own revisions. However, in 1868, publisher John
Bigelow purchased the original and complete manuscript and brought
out the most complete edition so far. The 20th century saw several
scholars bring out more definitive and complete versions. An
Autobiography... was written apparently to apprise his son about
the events of his life and also meant to be a treatise that would
lead to the self betterment of the younger generation. As a book,
it is a difficult and complex read. The tone is often meandering,
arrogant and condescending in turn and does not have a consistent
feel. Written over an extended time period, there are large gaps in
sequence and often the author contradicts his own recounting of
events. In fact, it ends abruptly, without a shred of information
about Franklin's seminal role in the American Revolution. Yet, two
centuries after its debut, it remains widely read and acclaimed,
valued for its being almost the first autobiography to have been
written in English. Its extensive advice on how to go about
achieving a list of virtues is probably the first ever self-help
book. As a glimpse of life in 18th century America, it is
unrivaled. An Autobiography... also provides readers with the
immense possibilities that the New World holds. A poor middleclass
youth, one of 10 children, whose parents could hardly afford to
send him to school, who attains learning and honest employment by
dint of sheer hard work can even today be said to represent the
American Dream. With the publication of An Autobiography... it was
possible for this new and emerging superpower to establish a
history and tradition of its own. As a slice of history, An
Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is indeed an interesting and
riveting read.
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