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Benjamin Franklin may have been the most remarkable American ever to live: a printer, scientist, inventor, politician, diplomat, and--finally--an icon. His life was so sweeping that this comprehensive biography by H.W. Brands at times reads like a history of the United States during the 18th century. Franklin was at the center of America's transition from British colony to new nation, and was a kind of Founding Grandfather to the Founding Fathers; he was a full generation older than George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Patrick Henry, and they all viewed him with deep respect. "Of those patriots who made independence possible, none mattered more than Franklin, and only Washington mattered as much," writes Brands (author of a well-received Teddy Roosevelt biography, T.R.: The Last Romantic). Franklin was a complex character who sometimes came up a bit short in the personal virtue department, once commenting, "That hard-to-be-governed passion of youth had hurried me frequently into intrigues with low women that fell in my way." When he married, another woman was already pregnant with his child--a son he took into his home and had his wife raise.
Franklin is best remembered for other things, of course. His still-famous Poor Richard's Almanac helped him secure enough financial freedom as a printer to retire and devote himself to the study of electricity (which began, amusingly, with experiments on chickens). His mind never rested: He invented bifocals, the armonica (a musical instrument made primarily of glass), and, in old age, a mechanical arm that allowed him to reach books stored on high shelves. He served American interests as a diplomat in Europe; without him, France might not have intervened in the American Revolution. He helped draft the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. He possessed a sense of humor, too. In 1776, when John Hancock urged the colonies to "hang together," Franklin is said to have commented, "We must indeed all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately." Franklin's accomplishments were so numerous and varied that they threaten to read like a laundry list. Yet Brands pours them into an engrossing narrative, and they leap to life on these pages as the grand story of an exceptional man. The First American is an altogether excellent biography. --John J. Miller
Book Description
In the first comprehensive biography of Benjamin Franklin in over sixty years, acclaimed historian H. W. Brands brings vividly to life one of the most delightful, bawdy, brilliant, original, and important figures in American history.
A groundbreaking scientist, leading businessman, philosopher, bestselling author, inventor, diplomat, politician, and wit, Benjamin Franklin was perhaps the most beloved and celebrated American of his age, or indeed of any age. Now, in a beautifully written and meticulously researched account of Franklin's life and times, his clever repartee, generous spirit, and earthy wisdom are brought compellingly to the page.
His circle of friends and acquaintances extended around the globe, from Cotton Mather to Voltaire, from Edmund Burke to King George III, from Sir Isaac Newton to Immanuel Kant. Franklin was gifted with a restless curiosity, and his scientific experiments with electric currents and the weather made him the leading pioneer in the new field of electricity on both sides of the Atlantic; among his many inventions were the lightning rod, the Franklin stove, and the harmonica, a musical instrument that became the rage of Europe.
From his humble beginnings in Boston as a printer's apprentice, he became, within two decades, the leading printer and one of the most important businessmen in the Colonies. A longtime Philadelphia civic leader, he created Philadelphia's first fire department, wrote the bestseller
Poor Richard's Almanac, served as Postmaster General for the Colonies, and in the process, completely modernized the mail service. A bon vivant and ladies' man throughout his life, he matched wits with Parliament and the Crown during the decade leading up to the Stamp Act; and as the official agent to Parliament, representing several of the Colonies, he helped push the Colonies into open rebellion.
Tracing Franklin's gradual transformation from reluctant revolutionary to charismatic leader in the fight for independence, Brands convincingly argues that on the issue of revolution, as Franklin went, so went America. During the Revolutionary War, Franklin was charged by Congress with wooing the King of France to the American cause, and it was the diplomatic alliances he forged and funds he raised in France that allowed the Continental Army to continue to fight on the battlefield. In his final years, as president of the Constitutional Convention, it was Franklin who held together the antagonistic factions and persuaded its members to sign the Constitution.
Drawing on previously unpublished letters to and from Franklin, as well as the recollections and anecdotes of Franklin's contemporaries, H. W. Brands has created a rich and compelling portrait of the eighteenth-century genius who was in every respect America's first Renaissance man, and arguably the pivotal figure in colonial and revolutionary America. A fascinating and richly textured biography of the man who was perhaps the greatest of our Founding Fathers, The First American is history on a grand scale, as well as a major contribution to understanding Franklin and the world he helped to shape.
Customer Reviews:
A model citizen and person, not just for Americans.......2007-09-17
An apt title, as the book successfully shows Franklin to have possessed the spirit, work ethic, independence, secularism, tolerance, aptitude and passion that are so quinessentially American (or I should say, allegedly American).
True, the book did drag a bit, and at the least expected times---during the revolution!; I wearied of reading about the subtle seductions and other flirtations between Franklin and his various French hosts' wives. Even more laborious and frustrating was plodding through some of the actual writings themselves---all while conscious of far more riveting exploits occurring elsewhere---namely, the Revolution itself! Still, I was grateful to gain a fresh insight on the war, from the perspective of this unexpected but indispensable, behind-the-scenes hero.
On the whole, I did find the book very enjoyable and interesting. Reading about Franklin's life inspires emulation, however daunting and futile such an undertaking might be.
An absolute joy of a biography.......2007-08-20
This is a very impressive biography of a very important American. Brands does an absolutely woderful job in taking Franklin's unbelievably full and eventful life and organizing it in such a way that it is a fast and enjoyable read.
What makes for this to be such a fascinating biography is Franklin himself, a lot of which he himself wrote in his autobiography. Yet Brands does an amazing job of interweaving what others thought of Franklin through their correspondence with him and others, as well as telling the history that revolves around virtually everything that Franklin did. This is what has made this biography such an amazing read, because we are given such a complete and full picture of the man and era that we feel as though we are there with Franklin.
I can really find nothing bad with this biography, nor with Brands. He writes in such a way that you want to continue reading, which is the mark of good writing. I would definitely recommend both this book as well as this author to everyone. An absolute joy of a biograohy.
5 stars.
Very informative.......2007-07-10
very informative yet enjoyable read on the man many consider to be more infulential then any other single person in the creation of this country.
The Man Behind The Country .......2007-07-02
'The First American' is an amazing book about the most amazing character ever to live in America. Benjamin Franklin is the hands-down leader in the shaping and development of our U.S. country and culture. He is still the most well known scientist of our time. He also contributed to our winning of the Revolutionary War and the development of our democratic process that we hold dear. Our country owes him gratitude for his creation of libraries, universities, and fire fighting. We are touched everyday by his innovations in science. The list of his accomplishments goes on and on. Unfortunately, so does this book. I often found myself struggling to get through fluff and a writer who at times finds it necessary to be long-winded. Yet, this book confirmed my praise to a man that always deserves more credit. The only reason I am giving this book a four is that I believe that the normal American would have a difficult time finishing it. All Americans should read the life story of a man that helped develop the freedom that we cherish. It should be required reading in college, and it should fill high school libraries.
Not Only the First, but One of the Greatest.......2007-04-18
Engagingly written. Filled with insightful details. Altogether a splendid read! Should be on every American's reading list.
Customer Reviews:
The Printer's Apprentice.......2002-11-08
I read a marvelous book titled The Printer's Apprentice,written by Stephen Krensky.This story takes place in 1734 in New York.The four main characters are Gus Croft,William Bradstar,Peter Zenger,and the governer of New York.Gus is a young bright child who is an apprentice of William and writes for the Gazzete.William owns the Gazette and teaches Gus a whole lot about writting.Zenger is a bright young man who is the writer for the Neww York Weekly Journal.The governer fo New York is an old man that runs the city.The main problem is that the poor man Zenger is being put on trial because he wrote bad(but true)things about the governer.
In the begining,the governer of New York wanted the Gazette that William owned to be cancled unless better things were written.So William told Gus to go to visit his cousin in Philadelphia to do this.At the same time,Zenger is being placed on trial because he wrote bad but true things about the governer in the New York Weekly trial.It was a great timing because Gus finds this trial with Zenger when he's in Philladelphia.He watches the trial and hears the defendent of Zenger explaining what is libel and what is the truth to the judge and jurores.He tells that what Zenger wrote was true,but if it wasn't true he should be guilty.Eleven years later Zenger dies.
This book tells what happened durring the colonial days.Writers would write things about a person in a high oosision and the person doesn't like it.You may not know that people were put on trial because of this.The high leveled person would say that the writer was writing libel things about him.If the judge lets the writer have the freedom of speech then the writer is innocent and should not be guilty and sent to prison.
Book Description
"What good shall I do today?"
How Ben Franklin answered that question -- through his work as a writer, printer, statesman, and inventor -- forever established him as one of America's greatest figures. On one day in 1729 he published the first edition of the Pennsylvania Gazette; on another day he changed the Declaration of Independence by adding the famous words, "We hold these truths to be self-evident"; and it was all in a day's work when he planted the first willow trees in America.
Modeled on his own Poor Richard's Almanack, this unique scrapbook captures Franklin's countless accomplishments. Biography and anecdote, cartoon and etching mesh to create a fascinating portrait of this most fascinating man. Anyone interested in the birth of American democracy...or curious about the rise of the U.S. postal system...or wondering how paper money came to be...or wanting to know how Ben Franklin was part of it all, is sure to pore over Ben Franklin's Almanac.
Customer Reviews:
knowledge.......2006-03-21
Excellent book!!!
I learned so much from this book, and I bought it for my kids. I would recommend it to any one.
You can pick it up and dip into the pages at random........2004-07-02
It isn't often that we are lucky enough to learn about a man who had the curiosity of a child and the mind of a genius, who loved learning and was able to find humor in all types of situations. Benjamin Franklin was such a man.
Candace Fleming allows us to explore Franklin's extraordinary life in a new way. She has chosen to present Franklin's life in the form of a scrapbook or almanac, rather than a traditional biography. Franklin in fact gained a good portion of his original popularity by publishing an almanac himself titled POOR RICHARD'S ALMANAC. It is perhaps only fitting that his life be presented in the form of an almanac as well.
It is quite astonishing to discover within the pages of this remarkable book how much Franklin accomplished in his lifetime. In addition to his electrical experiments involving kites, Franklin organized the first real postal system in the thirteen colonies, printed the first paper money, and saw years before anyone else that the American Revolution was going to happen. He also recognized that slavery would be an issue that would not go away; he knew that one day it would be a problem for the people of the United States.
One of the wonderful things about this book is that you can pick it up and dip into the pages at random --- and once you pick it up, you cannot put it down. Resembling an almanac or scrapbook with an old-fashioned looking script, pictures, photographs, copies of letters and other documents, BEN FRANKLIN'S ALMANAC is a refreshing new look at the life of one of America's greatest men. We are able to marvel and sometimes smile at the things Benjamin Franklin did and said. Surely, such a lover of books would be proud of this gem.
--- Reviewed by Marya Jansen-Gruber
A lively coverage for kids with good reading skills.......2003-12-14
This account of Franklin's life holds a little over a hundred pages, and has good large print and fine pictures to offset the many words from Franklin's own almanac which offers a scrapbook of his accomplishments. Modeled on his Poor Richard's Almanack but revised for younger audiences, this blends biography and observation with cartoons, etchings, and other illustrations to create a lively coverage for kids with good reading skills.
Richie's Picks: BEN FRANKLIN'S ALMANAC.......2003-12-01
"Ben's Rules for Being a Better Writer
"Everyone, Ben believed, had a need to communicate well. Over the years he developed and stuck to these writing rules.
"Good writing should be smooth, clear, and short, and the art of saying little in much must be avoided at all costs. In written discourse, every needless thing gives offense and must be eliminated...Had this always been done, many large and tiresome volumes would have shrunk into pamphlets, and many a pamphlet into a single period."
It seems like a stream of new Benjamin Franklin biographies make their appearance as steadily as the changing of the seasons. That perception has caused my building a healthy skepticism concerning the need for just one more. But Candace Fleming has taken Ben's writing rules to heart. Less is more in BEN FRANKLIN'S ALMANAC, Fleming's continually entertaining and enlightening collection of quotes, anecdotes, illustrations, American history, and other tasty tidbits (including the occasional fish story) that the author has harvested from original source materials.
Rather than assembling a typical chronological tome, Fleming has grouped this assortment of goodies into an eye-catching patchwork format that is clumped around eight themes: Boyhood Memories, The Family Album, The Writer's Journal, Tokens of a Well-Lived Life, The Scientist's Scrapbook, Revolutionary Memorabilia, Souvenirs from France, and Final Remembrances.
"All his life Ben tried to do what was right. His daily routine reminded him to put mankind's problems before his own.
"I rose at five each morning, and addressed Powerful Goodness [Ben's name for God] with the same question: What Good Shall I Do Today? I then studied and planned my day until eight, worked until twelve, dined and overlooked my account books until two, worked again until six when I had supper, music and conversation. At ten I examined my day. What Good Had I Done That Day?"
Not that he was perfect, or anything. As Ben noted, "With regards to places for things, papers, etc., I am a dismal failure." And as Fleming reveals, while his genius included his being credited for so many important inventions including bifocals, he nonetheless lacked the vision to see that women should be accorded the same opportunities and rights as men:
"When his young friend Polly Stevenson talked of devoting herself to studying philosophy, Ben was appalled. 'Knowledge may be useful,' he warned her, 'but there is nothing of equal dignity and importance than being a good daughter, a good wife, a good mother.' Ben wondered why women needed the 'full Pandora's box of knowledge' opened to them. Instead, he argued, women should be taught useful and functional skills--reading, writing, and accounting. This, he claimed, 'stood them in good stead to be active, helpful partners in their husband's business.' "
And, speaking of errors, "Ben once invited a group of friends to an 'electrical picnic.' He planned to kill a turkey by 'electrical shock,' then roast it with 'electrical fire.' Unfortunately, he became so engrossed in conversation he forgot to pay close attention to what he was doing. He touched two wires together and zap! Ben received the shock instead of the turkey. His body vibrated from head to toe, and smoke curled from one buckled shoe. Luckily, he escaped with just a few bruises and a sore chest."
Through the accumulated pieces of her collection, the author succinctly covers the well-trod life-of-Franklin: Ben's printing career, centered on his 26 years as writer and publisher of the annual Poor Richard's Almanack (the second-most read book in the Colonies), would by itself have insured Franklin's immortality. Then that aspect of his life was topped by the jaw-dropping string of inventions coupled with his instigation of public libraries, street lamps, quality postal service, and volunteer fire departments, which made him even more famous. And then, his involvement--the old guy with the fire in his belly--in producing the Declaration of Independence, followed by his pivotal role in the winning of the Revolution by persuading France to enter the fray when Washington's troops were on the verge of defeat, elevated Franklin to American sainthood. If that wasn't enough, he returned to America and (at 81 years old) helped formulate the Constitution.
But he STILL wasn't done!
"Saint" Ben had at one time been a slave owner. But while in England in the years preceding the Revolution, Franklin "found himself trying to defend America against charges of hypocrisy." He had freed his slaves, observed "firsthand 'the natural capacities of the black race,' " and then, after ratification of the Constitution, he petitioned Congress on the subject of slavery:
"Noting Congress had been created to 'promulgate the welfare and secure the blessings of liberty to the People of the United States,' he argued that this should be done 'without distinction of color,' since all people are created by the 'same Almighty Being, alike the objects of his care and equally designed for the enjoyment of happiness.' To tolerate less, Franklin argued, 'was to contradict the meaning of the Revolution.' "
If only Ben could have hung around for another decade in order to persuade the new nation of this argument, we might have had him to thank for the success of one more of his great ideas.
But thanks to the fine work of Candace Fleming, we at least have a thoroughly satisfying "true account of the good gentleman's life," as well as one more important piece of ammunition in my argument that a real love and understanding of American history will much more readily come from trade books of this caliber than from standardized textbooks.
A Truly Renaissance Man.......2003-11-04
This book is a terrific account of Ben Franklin's life and achievements. As a teacher this text by Candace Fleming is chalkfull of information that is interesting to my fifth grade students. I would highly recommend this to anyone.
Book Description
A generous selection of writings that brings to life the attractive, complex, and guileful genius of the most celebrated American of his age
It takes a very inclusive anthology to encompass the protean personality and range of interests of Benjamin Franklin, but The Portable Benjamin Franklin succeeds as no collection has. In addition to the complete Autobiography, the volume contains about 100 of Franklin's major writings— essays, journalism, letters, political tracts, scientific observations, proposals for the improvement of civic and personal life, literary bagatelles, and private musings. The selections are reprinted in their entirety and organized chronologically within six sections that represent the full range of Franklin's temperament. The result is a zestful read for Franklin scholars and anyone wanting to know and enjoy this American icon.
Book Description
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, philosopher, Franklin is a touchstone for America's egalitarianism.
Volume 2 takes Franklin from his marriage in 1730 to his retirement as a printer at the beginning of 1748, examining the mysteries of the illegitimate William Franklin's birth and mother and Franklin's increasing civic activities--starting the Library Company in Philadelphia in 1731, forming Pennsylvania's first volunteer fire company, and becoming an advocate for a clean Philadelphia environment. J. A. Leo Lemay assesses Franklin's numerous writings, attributing to him for the first time a deistic Indian speech, remarking on his use of the second African American persona in journalism, and analyzing his publishing sensation of 1747, The Speech of Miss Polly Baker. These belletristic works are complemented by Franklin's religious, political, and scientific writings, which he produced prodigiously.
Average customer rating:
- wonderful sense of the period
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Recovering Benjamin Franklin: An Exploration of a Life of Science and Service
James Campbell
Manufacturer: Open Court
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ASIN: 0812693876 |
Book Description
We see his face on stamps, coins, and currency and repeat his witty aphorisms, but few of us understand the breadth of Ben Franklin's influence on early American philosophy. In RECOVERING BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, James Campbell paints a unique portrait of Franklin, arguing that he was not only a creative inventor, insightful humorist, and skillful ambassador-but also an influential early member of the Pragmatist movement. Campbell explores Franklin's extraordinary place in American history, laying out his contributions to science, religion, morality, politics, and philosophy. He also emphasizes Franklin's vision of the social good: the need for institutions and structures to organize human cooperation, his advocacy of cooperation, education, and religious tolerance, and his assertion of the superiority of the simple life of the new American democracy.
Customer Reviews:
wonderful sense of the period.......1999-10-08
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!
Average customer rating:
- The American Colony's Rupert Murdoch
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Benjamin Franklin's Printing Network: Disseminating Virtue in Early America
Ralph Frasca
Manufacturer: University of Missouri Press
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ASIN: 0826216145 |
Customer Reviews:
The American Colony's Rupert Murdoch.......2007-09-02
The many facets of the career of Benjamin Franklin have brought one biography after another, with some specializing in one particular aspect of his life. As he had so many active fields of endeavor, the supply of books will continue. Franklin was a scientist, inventor, philosopher, revolutionary, chess player, journalist, essayist, and lifelong do-gooder. He was also a printer, and from that he was a businessman. It is this seemingly ordinary part of his spectacular life that is the subject of _Benjamin Franklin's Printing Network: Disseminating Virtue in Early America_ (University of Missouri Press) by historian Ralph Frasca. Franklin, of course, thought of himself as a printer. It was what he was trained to do as an apprentice. He became a fugitive apprentice when he ran away from his older brother's Boston shop to make his own way in Philadelphia. He succeeded, and although others eventually took over the ink and typesetting parts of the trade while he made himself busy with other things, he extended his influence to other shops and other newspapers. Using his job skills, he was able to rise beyond his class, a common enough and even typically American story now, but something that was just not done in what was still the British social system of the time. He developed a network of printers which was not only lucrative to him, but helped him get the word out about the importance of virtue, morality, and industry.
That Franklin was a success himself as a printer in Philadelphia there can be no doubt, but he was enormously influential in making a printing empire. In 1731, South Carolina invited him to become its printer of official records, but he did not want to leave Philadelphia. He hit on the alternative of sending his journeyman, Thomas Whitmarsh, to Charleston, along with a press, fonts, and funds. Whitmarsh thus was the first member in what we would recognize as a franchise marketing scheme. He surrendered a third of the profits to Franklin, and in return got the start-up costs, as well as almanacs and other books to be sold in his shop, and news stories so that the _South-Carolina Gazette_ would be a sister publication to Franklin's in Philadelphia. Over the succeeding decades, Franklin would select other journeymen to become his distant proxies, always valuing their industry and sobriety, and in this way hoping that his emphasis on virtue might create further examples for others to follow. Eventually, the Franklin printing empire extended to New York, Newport, New Haven, and even Antigua. Not all of the shops flourished, and some not only lost money but caused their founder family heartache. Nonetheless, Franklin's printing network was the largest and most influential of the time. His first partnership started in 1729, and he forged his last over fifty years later. By his franchises, he increased the growth of printing throughout the colonies; by 1755, eight of the fifteen newspapers in the colonies were from the Franklin network, and other printers learned and borrowed from them. Franklin's success was the press's success, and formed the early American printing tradition. Not only were information and opinion disseminated through the network, but also the value of journalism was impressed upon the reading audience. When the new government was being formed, the importance of a free press was not lost upon it.
Perhaps the most important function of the network was that it allowed Franklin to spend more time on other things, the experiments in electricity, the advising on colonial independence, and the appointments to France by which we better remember him. It was the printing that made him, though; in drafting his will in 1788, he went on to mention his other offices, but identified himself as "BENJAMIN FRANKLIN, of Philadelphia, printer..." right at the beginning. He also wrote the wonderful epitaph for himself (not actually used on his monument) comparing his printer's body to a cover of a book from which the contents have been torn out. Even within the sphere of being a printer, however, he went on to be much more. Frasca's welcome book shows just how Franklin made himself into a printing empire, and stresses (just as Franklin would have wanted) how it was done as part of his effort at improving humanity.
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- The personal side of an extraordinary man
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My Life with Benjamin Franklin
Claude-Anne Lopez
Manufacturer: Yale University Press
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ASIN: 0300081928 |
Book Description
This book consists of 18 charming, incidental essays--some serious, some light--that recount hitherto unknown anecdotes of Franklin's life and Ms. Lopez's experiences of unearthing them. Though a few of the pieces have been previously published or presented as speeches, most are new. Ms. Lopez has included brief personal introductions to each of the essays, relating her reasons for writing them and in the process threading the various pieces together. This well-written book should be altogether appealing to the general reader interested in Franklin and American history.
Customer Reviews:
The personal side of an extraordinary man.......2001-02-02
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.
Customer Reviews:
Read this over your child's shoulder.......2004-01-08
Written for middle-grade children, this book is of the highest order. It is immensely enjoyable, written in an engaging and intelligent style. The illustrations and facsimiles of colonial newspapers contribute a lot, and the author communicates an infectious interest in his subject (though at times it may seem to walk the line of being overly adulatory). With his background in teaching mathematics, I was a little surprised Mr. Adler did not make more of the "magic squares," but no matter. Recommended for use in the classroom, or as summer reading for parents to enjoy with their children; and even for the general reader.
An Outstanding Biography.......2002-03-12
While reading B. FRANKLIN, PRINTER I felt I was immersed in the 18th century with Franklin. I felt I really knew him. I loved the escerpts from colonial newspapers, especially the ones from 1775, the first-hand reports from the firing at Lexington and Concord. I was never bored!
Average customer rating:
- The Zenger Case in Words and Images
- Courtesy of Teens Read Too
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The Printer's Trial: The Case of John Peter Zenger and the Fight for a Free Press
Gail Jarrow
Manufacturer: Calkins Creek Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Colonial & Revolutionary
| United States
| History & Historical Fiction
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Social Science
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| Subjects
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General
| Social Issues
| People & Places
| Children's Books
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Law & Crime
| Reference & Nonfiction
| Children's Books
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Politics & Government
| Reference & Nonfiction
| Children's Books
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General
| Ages 9-12
| Children's Books
| Subjects
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ASIN: 1590784324 |
Customer Reviews:
The Zenger Case in Words and Images.......2007-06-19
Children's writer Gail Jarrow provides an informative and entertaining account of the 1735 trial of printer Peter Zenger, which laid the groundwork for the Bill of Rights' provision for the freedom of the press. While nominally aimed at young adults, Jarrow's book narrates the history of the case in a way that would appeal to historians of all ages.
The narrative itself is based on careful historical scholarship and Jarrow's analysis of primary documents. The book excels at outlining the tense political environment of New York City that led to Zenger being charged for printing seditious statements. Jarrow sheds light on a complicated political fracas involving the colonial governor and a host of regional lawyers and political playmakers. The clarity of the narrative here is a testament to Jarrow's skill as a historical writer.
The book is also beautifully illustrated, with each left-facing page featuring portraits of major figures in the narrative, maps and photographs of historical landmarks, and even reproductions of Zenger's newspaper. These images are accompanied by brief but informative captions that lend texture to the narrative being laid out on the right-facing page. The book's design thus contributes greatly to Jarrow's ability to bring Zenger's case to life for the modern reader.
A fine read throughout. Highly recommended to young adults, college students, and the general reader alike.
Courtesy of Teens Read Too.......2007-04-02
Words are powerful things.
On August 4, 1735, John Peter Zenger was declared "Not Guilty" of seditious libel, therefore setting the groundwork for freedom of the press in what would become the United States. But, the story truly starts much earlier, and there is a lot more to it than I ever imagined.
The most obvious and immediate event that would lead to the trial of Mr. Zenger was the arrival of a new British Governor, William Cosby. Cosby had earned his position through marriage, and a reputation of being difficult. He was also greedy. He demanded money for things he couldn't prove he'd done, for time not working for the people, raised taxes and fees and took the extra money for himself, and demanded that his salary be increased. He insulted and offended not only politicians, but the people he was supposed to be governing. When he decided to sue a well known and liked colonist he abused the court system, hand-picking a jury that was guaranteed to rule in his favor. The Governor hadn't counted on the honesty and integrity of one of the jury members. Governor Cosby lost his case and was furious. The damage was done with the colonists as well. Having seen the true colors of the governor, they resolved to fight back. The New York Weekly Journal was born.
The New York Weekly Journal was created by a group of men who wanted to strike back at the Governor. They wanted to be able to respond to what the Governor said about them, and tell the truth to the people. John Peter Zenger's only involvement was as the printer of the paper. The articles were all written anonymously, but Mr. Zenger didn't have the education or knowledge to have written them. He was the one who set the type in the printing press and put the pages together for distribution.
Insults flew back and forth between Cosby and the Journal for quite some time before Cosby decided to attempt to put a stop to things. Since he couldn't prove who wrote the articles, Cosby had the printer, Mr. Zenger, arrested and charged with seditious libel. And so began the printer's trial, and the beginning of the battle for freedom of the press.
I learned so much from this book.
To begin with, I never really separated the ideas of sedition and libel. Sedition is basically promoting discontent, usually against the government or ruling authority. Libel is intentionally misrepresenting things, in print, in a negative way. So, seditious libel is intentionally printing things in a false and negative way, in order to make people unhappy with their leaders. Obviously not a good thing.
It's also an interesting look at the early politics in our country. People in power who use the system to their advantage. Groups who let unknowing people become scapegoats in order to prove their point. Using a public forum to present your views as the truth, regardless of whether or not they are. Interestingly it's all stuff you can find in politics today. But, thanks to the freedom of the press we get to see all sorts of different viewpoints and ideas, and make up our own minds.
This is the kind of book I wish I'd had to learn about history. It doesn't just give you dates and occurrences, it tells you the story of what happened, and why, and how.
Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman
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