Reviews
"This colossal study . . . does for Franklin what Dumas Malone did for Thomas Jefferson. In sheer comprehensiveness, it surpasses any previous (and, one imagines, future) treatment. When completed, it promises to provide just about as complete a factual account of Franklin's life as it is possible to put together."- Journal of American History, "This colossal study . . . does for Franklin what Dumas Malone did for Thomas Jefferson. In sheer comprehensiveness, it surpasses any previous (and, one imagines, future) treatment. When completed, it promises to provide just about as complete a factual account of Franklin's life as it is possible to put together."-- Journal of American History, "Lemay's final output will do for the popular interest in our revolution and early founding what Douglas Southall Freeman's magisterial Lee's Lieutenants did for our fixation on the Civil War. . . . I can't wait for Mr. Lemay's next volumes."- Washington Times, "A labor of love balanced by thoughtful criticism. There is nothing like it."- American Historical Review, Under Mr. Lemay's narrative spell, Franklin emerges as the greatest of Americans. . . . It takes an awesome biography to do justice to such a man, and that is exactly what Mr. Lemay is writing., "Under Mr. Lemay's narrative spell, Franklin emerges as the greatest of Americans. . . . It takes an awesome biography to do justice to such a man, and that is exactly what Mr. Lemay is writing."-- New York Sun, Lemay's magnificent opus manages to be accessible and interesting for the general reader while also valuable for the specialist. . . . For readers who want to luxuriate in the life and times of a fascinating man and who enjoy seeing how an expert historian examines evidence and reaches conclusions, this biography is indispensable. Highly recommended., Recent books on Ben Franklin abound. However, this work, in the classic multivolume 'life and times' genre, is especially valuable. Highly recommended., "Under Mr. Lemay's narrative spell, Franklin emerges as the greatest of Americans. . . . It takes an awesome biography to do justice to such a man, and that is exactly what Mr. Lemay is writing."--New York Sun, "A labor of love balanced by thoughtful criticism. There is nothing like it."-- American Historical Review, This colossal study . . . does for Franklin what Dumas Malone did for Thomas Jefferson. In sheer comprehensiveness, it surpasses any previous (and, one imagines, future) treatment. When completed, it promises to provide just about as complete a factual account of Franklin's life as it is possible to put together., "Lemay's final output will do for the popular interest in our revolution and early founding what Douglas Southall Freeman's magisterial Lee's Lieutenants did for our fixation on the Civil War. . . . I can't wait for Mr. Lemay's next volumes."-- Washington Times, "Recent books on Ben Franklin abound. However, this work, in the classic multivolume 'life and times' genre, is especially valuable. Highly recommended."-- Choice, Lemay's final output will do for the popular interest in our revolution and early founding what Douglas Southall Freeman's magisterial Lee's Lieutenants did for our fixation on the Civil War. . . . I can't wait for Mr. Lemay's next volumes., "Under Mr. Lemay's narrative spell, Franklin emerges as the greatest of Americans. . . . It takes an awesome biography to do justice to such a man, and that is exactly what Mr. Lemay is writing."- New York Sun, "Veteran Franklin scholar Lemay offers a highly detailed examination of one of the most fascinating of America's founders."- Publishers Weekly, "The authoritative compendium of Franklin's remarkable exploits and contributions."- Times Higher Education Supplement, "Lemay's magnificent opus manages to be accessible and interesting for the general reader while also valuable for the specialist. . . . For readers who want to luxuriate in the life and times of a fascinating man and who enjoy seeing how an expert historian examines evidence and reaches conclusions, this biography is indispensable. Highly recommended."-- Library Journal (starred review), "Veteran Franklin scholar Lemay offers a highly detailed examination of one of the most fascinating of America's founders."-- Publishers Weekly, "Recent books on Ben Franklin abound. However, this work, in the classic multivolume 'life and times' genre, is especially valuable. Highly recommended."--Choice, "Lemay's magnificent opus manages to be accessible and interesting for the general reader while also valuable for the specialist. . . . For readers who want to luxuriate in the life and times of a fascinating man and who enjoy seeing how an expert historian examines evidence and reaches conclusions, this biography is indispensable. Highly recommended."- Library Journal (starred review), "The authoritative compendium of Franklin's remarkable exploits and contributions."-- Times Higher Education Supplement, Veteran Franklin scholar Lemay offers a highly detailed examination of one of the most fascinating of America's founders., "Recent books on Ben Franklin abound. However, this work, in the classic multivolume 'life and times' genre, is especially valuable. Highly recommended."- Choice
Table of Content
List of Illustrations Preface PART I. BOSTON: YOUTH, 1706-1723 Prologue: Quandary 1. Boston 2. Child to Adolescent 3. Printer's Devil 4. Massachusetts Controversies, 1716-1723 5. Nathaniel Gardner and the Couranteers 6. James Franklin: America's First Newspaperman 7. Silence Dogood in Context 8. "Saucy and Provoking": Franklin Takes Charge 9. Assessing Franklin as a Youth, to Age Seventeen PART II. ADRIFT, AGE SEVENTEEN TO TWENTY-FOUR, 1723-1730 10. The Runaway 11. The Water American: London Escapades 12. At Sea, 1726 13. Merchant to Master Printer, 1726-1728 14. The Junto 15. Business, 1728-1730, and "Articles of Religion" 16. The Busy-Body 17. Paper Currency 18. Journalist 19. Assessing Franklin, Age Seventeen to Twenty-four Appendix: New Attributions Sources and Documentation List of Abbreviations Notes Index Acknowledgments
