A Benjamin Franklin reader / edited and annotated by Walter Isaacson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790.

Contributor:

Isaacson, Walter.

Standardized Title:

Works. Selections. 2003

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790. Archives.

Franklin, Benjamin.

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790.

Statesmen--United States--Biography.

Statesmen.

Politics and government.

United States.

Scientists--United States--Biography.

Scientists.

Printers--United States--Biography.

Printers.

United States--Politics and government--To 1775--Sources.

United States--Politics and government--1775-1783--Sources.

Genre:

Biographies.

Sources.

Physical Description:

xv, 551 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Simon & Schuster, [2003]

Summary:

As a twelve-year-old apprentice in his brother's print shop, Benjamin Franklin taught himself to be a writer by taking notes on the works of great essayists such as Addison and Steele, jumbling them up, and then trying to recreate them in his own words. By that method, he recalled in his Autobiography, he was encouraged to think he might become a "tolerable" writer. In fact, he became the best, most popular, and most influential writer in colonial America. His direct and practical prose shaped America's democratic character, and his homespun humor gave birth to the nation's unique brand of crackerbarrel wisdom.

This book collects dozens of Franklin's delightful essays and letters, along with a complete version of his Autobiography. It includes an introductory essay exploring Franklin's life and impact as a writer, and each piece is accompanied by a preface and notes that provide background, context, and analysis. Through the writings and the introductory essays, the reader can trace the development of Franklin's thinking, along with the birth of the nation he and his pen helped to invent.

Contents:

Part 1 The Young Apprentice

Silence Dogood Introduces Herself 9

Silence Dogood on Courtship 11

Silence Dogood Attacks Harvard 14

Silence Dogood's Recipe for Poetry 18

Silence Dogood Attacks the Puritan Theocracy 21

Silence Dogood Proposes Civic Improvements 24

A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity 30

Plan of Conduct 36

Advice to His Sister on Her Marriage 37

A New Creed and Liturgy 38

Part 2 The Philadelphia Printer

The First Abortion Controversy 45

The Busy-Body 46

Franklin the Editor 49

The Lessons of Misprints 50

Rules for Marriage 52

A Scolding Wife 56

A Witch Trial at Mount Holly 58

A Printer's Creed 60

Sex Sells 63

Anthony Afterwit on Marriage 65

Celia Single Responds 69

In Praise of Gossip 72

The Discussion Club 80

How to Please in Conversation 86

Part 3 Poor Richard and Friends

Introducing Poor Richard 93

Poor Richard vs. Mr. Leeds 94

On the Death of Infants 96

Poor Richard Denies He Is Franklin 100

Faith Versus Good Works 101

Poor Richard Blames His Printer 106

The Drinker's Dictionary 108

How to Write an Almanac 112

Poor Richard's Wife Takes Her Turn 115

Poor Richard Defends Astrology and Wit 117

A Defense of Religious Tolerance 119

A Ballad for Deborah 122

Reasons to Choose an Older Mistress 124

Polly Baker's Trial 126

Part 4 The Public Citizen

A Call to Arms for the Middling People 133

The University of Pennsylvania 139

How to Be a Good Tradesman 146

Rattlesnakes for Felons 149

Magical Squares 152

On Welfare Dependency 155

The Albany Plan for an American Union 160

Catherine Ray 166

A Parable on Intolerance 172

The Way to Wealth 174

Part 5 Lobbyist in London

Reasons for Restoring Canada to France 187

Mary Stevenson 190

David Hume 194

On Observing the Sabbath 198

When Oil Does Not Calm Troubled Waters 199

Race and Slavery 201

Propaganda Agent 203

A Paean to Deborah 211

The Grumpy Boarder 213

More on Welfare Dependency 214

Cold Air Baths 219

The Fable of the Lion and the Dog 219

Polly Gets Married 220

The Cravenstreet Gazette 223

A Showdown with Lord Hillsborough 230

The Seeds of a Total Disunion 233

How to Weigh a Decision 236

Ode to a Squirrel 237

The Cause of Colds 239

Parody Rules and an Edict Directed at Britain 240

Part 6 American Rebel

You Are My Enemy 259

Proposed Articles of Confederation 259

The Rattlesnake as America's Symbol 263

Part 7 Ambassador in Paris

An Appeal to France's Interests 269

The Sale of the Hessians 271

A Form Letter of Recommendation 273

The Twelve Commandments, to Madame Brillon 274

A Proposed Treaty with Madame Brillon 276

Bagatelle of the Ephemera 279

Madame Helvetius and Elysian Fields 281

John Paul Jones 283

To His Daughter on Fame, Frugality, and Grandchildren 286

The Morals of Chess 289

Bagatelle on St. Peter's Tolerance 293

On Wine and the Elbow 294

To George Washington on Reputation 296

John Adams 298

Dialogue Between the Gout and Mr. Franklin 301

The Science of Farts 308

A Fable About Misguided Loyalists 311

Seducing the French 313

To Polly on Her Mother and the Futility of War 315

A Critique of Excess Wealth 316

On Hereditary Honors and the Turkey 322

A Vision of America 327

No Longer His Enemy 335

Daylight Savings Time 341

The Prodigal William 346

On Wishes, Age, and Bifocals 349

Part 8 Constitutional Sage

The Constitutional Convention 357

Motion for Prayers 361

Franklin's Closing Speech 363

A Miffy Family 365

Webster's Dictionary 367

On the Abolition of Slavery 368

The Final Parody, on Slavery 372

On Jesus Christ 376

To Thomas Jefferson 379

Last Will and Codicil 380

Part 9 The Autobiography.

Notes:

"The Autobiography, plus: Poor Richard's almanac, Silence Dogwood's letters, bagatelles to his French girlfriends, the closing speech at the Constitutional Convention, letters to Jefferson and Adams and Washington, and other wonderful writings from America's favorite founder."

ISBN:

0743257820

OCLC:

52877016