Atlantic Cousins: Benjamin Franklin and His Visionary Friends

Benjamin Franklin & his fellow thinkers of the Enlightenment are among the most intriguing people in history. In nearly all areas -- science, politics, social justice, philosophy, medicine -- these men & women revolutionized the world around them. Even by our standards, their ideas seem inspired & inspiring. But that doesn¿t mean these revolutionaries didn¿t have their factions. Often bitter, even murderous disagreements fractured their ranks. Standing at their center & ultimately uniting them all was the towering figure of Ben Franklin. This volume illuminates the work of these extraordinary visionaries, whose progressive ideas & ideals still ring true. The author uses anecdotes & short histories to engage the reader, & he roots it all in intense scholarship. Illustrations.