Benjamin Franklin : an American life
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Bibliographic Information
Benjamin Franklin : an American life
Simon & Schuster, c2003
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Benjamin Franklin
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Note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Description and Table of Contents
Description
During his 84-year life Benjamin Franklin was America's best scientist, inventor, publisher, business strategist, diplomat, and writer. He was also one of its most practical political thinkers. America's first great publicist, he carefully crafted his own persona, portrayed it in public and polished it for posterity. In this riveting new biography Walter Isaacson provides readers with a full portrait of Franklin's public and private life - his loyal but neglected wife, his bastard son with whom he broke over going to war with England, his endless replacement families and his many amorous, but probably unconsummated, liaisons. But this is not just a biography of Benjamin Franklin but rather a fascinating look at American and European political history at that time. Isaacson examines the run up to the Revolutionary war, the intimate relations between Britain, France and the colonies and the decisive events that led to America's independence. Just as David McCullough brought life to the historic figure of John Adams, Isaacson portrays Franklin in the flesh, showing readers how this radical man helped define America's national character and personality.
Table of Contents
Contents
Chapter One
Benjamin Franklin and the Invention of America
Chapter Two
Pilgrim's Progress: Boston, 1706-1723
Chapter Three
Journeyman: Philadelphia and London, 1723-1726
Chapter Four
Printer: Philadelphia, 1726-1732
Chapter Five
Public Citizen: Philadelphia, 1731-1748
Chapter Six
Scientist and Inventor: Philadelphia, 1744-1751
Chapter Seven
Politician: Philadelphia, 1749-1756
Chapter Eight
Troubled Waters: London, 1757-1762
Chapter Nine
Home Leave: Philadelphia, 1763-1764
Chapter Ten
Agent Provocateur: London, 1765-1770
Chapter Eleven
Rebel: London, 1771-1775
Chapter Twelve
Independence: Philadelphia, 1775-1776
Chapter Thirteen
Courtier: Paris, 1776-1778
Chapter Fourteen
Bon Vivant: Paris, 1778-1785
Chapter Fifteen
Peacemaker: Paris, 1778-1785
Chapter Sixteen
Sage: Philadelphia, 1785-1790
Chapter Seventeen
Epilogue
Chapter Eighteen
Conclusions
Cast of Characters
Chronology
Currency Conversions
Acknowledgments
Sources and Abbreviations
Notes
Index
by "Nielsen BookData"
