Book Cover of The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

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. 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.

Book Details

Language

English

Original Language

American English

Published In

1791

Genre/Category

Tags/Keywords

Authors

Benjamin Franklin image

Benjamin Franklin

United States

Franklin earned the title of "The First American" for his early and indefatigable campaigning for colonial unity, initially as an author and spokesman in London for several colonies. As the first Unit...

Books by Benjamin Franklin

Listen/Download Audiobook

Read by:
00:00
Playback Speed 1.0
00:00
  • Select Speed

Related books

Six Radical Thinkers: Bentham, J.S. Mill, Cobden, Carlyle, Mazzini, T.H. Green  Cover image

Six Radical Thinkers: Bentham, J.S. Mill, Cobden, Carlyle, Mazzini, T.H. Green by John MacCunn

A radical is a person who holds extreme or unconventional convictions and who advocates fundamental political, economic, or social reforms. In this vo...

Confessions, Volume 4 Cover image

Confessions, Volume 4 by Jean-Jacques Rousseau

The Confessions is an autobiographical book by Jean-Jacques Rousseau. In modern times, it is often published with the title The Confessions of Jean-Ja...

Frederick Douglass Cover image

Frederick Douglass by Booker T. Washington

"Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington," a riveting exploration of two remarkable African American leaders, immerses readers into a critical era...

Confessions of St. Augustine Cover image

Confessions of St. Augustine by Saint Augustine of Hippo

Confessions is an autobiographical work by Saint Augustine of Hippo, consisting of 13 books written in Latin between AD 397 and 400. The work outlines...

The Relations of Saint Teresa of Avila  Cover image

The Relations of Saint Teresa of Avila by St. Teresa of Avila

Teresa of Ávila also called Saint Teresa of Jesus, was a Spanish noblewoman who was called to convent life in the Catholic Church. A Carmelite nun, pr...

Daniel Boone, the pioneer of Kentucky Cover image

Daniel Boone, the pioneer of Kentucky by John Stevens Cabot Abbott

This is a detailed biography of the life and adventures of Daniel Boone. His accomplishments are brushed over in history classes these days and not gi...

The Life of St. Benedict Cover image

The Life of St. Benedict by Pope Gregory I

This delve into the extraordinary journey of one of the most influential figures in Christian history. Step into a world of devotion, miracles, and sp...

Charles Dickens  Cover image

Charles Dickens by Gilbert K. Chesterton

Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded by...

The Secret Places of the Heart  Cover image

The Secret Places of the Heart by H. G. Wells

The book is to a great extent autobiographical. H. G. had read some brilliantly composed articles by a writer who wrote under the name Rebecca West. I...

Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands Cover image

Wonderful Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands by Mary Jane Seacole

I should have thought that no preface would have been required to introduce Mrs. Seacole to the British public, or to recommend a book which must, fro...

Reviews for The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

No reviews posted or approved, yet...