The Autobiography and Other WritingsSignet Classic, 1961 - 352 pages Benjamin Franklin's writings represent a long career of literary, scientific, and political efforts over a lifetime which extended nearly the entire eighteenth century. Franklin's achievements range from inventing the lightning rod to publishing Poor Richard's Almanack to signing the Declaration of Independence. In his own lifetime he knew prominence not only in America but in Britain and France as well. This volume includes Franklin's reflections on such diverse questions as philosophy and religion, social status, electricity, American national characteristics, war, and the status of women. Nearly sixty years separate the earliest writings from the latest, an interval during which Franklin was continually balancing between the puritan values of his upbringing and the modern American world to which his career served as prologue. This edition provides a new text of the Autobiography, established with close reference to Franklin's original manuscript. It also includes a new transcription of the 1726 journal, and several pieces which have recently been identified as Franklin's own work. |
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Page 88
... dear sir , this work most speedily into hand : shew yourself good as you are good ; temperate as you are temperate ; and above all things , prove yourself as one who from your infancy have loved justice , liberty , and concord , in a ...
... dear sir , this work most speedily into hand : shew yourself good as you are good ; temperate as you are temperate ; and above all things , prove yourself as one who from your infancy have loved justice , liberty , and concord , in a ...
Page 184
... Dear Sister , TO JANE FRANKLIN January 6 , 1727 I am highly pleased with the account captain Freeman gives me of you . I always judged by your behaviour when a child that you would make a good , agreeable woman , and you know you were ...
... Dear Sister , TO JANE FRANKLIN January 6 , 1727 I am highly pleased with the account captain Freeman gives me of you . I always judged by your behaviour when a child that you would make a good , agreeable woman , and you know you were ...
Page 314
... dear dear Friend , Yours most sincerely BF [ 17 ] Rejected Suitor When Franklin sailed from France in 1785 , he left behind two saddened women , Mesdames Brillon and Helvétius . The latter was a rich widow in her sixties who lived at ...
... dear dear Friend , Yours most sincerely BF [ 17 ] Rejected Suitor When Franklin sailed from France in 1785 , he left behind two saddened women , Mesdames Brillon and Helvétius . The latter was a rich widow in her sixties who lived at ...
Contents
Introduction | 7 |
PART ONEThe Autobiography | 15 |
PART TWO Selected Writings | 182 |
Copyright | |
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acquainted advantage affairs afterwards American American Philosophical Society appeared Art of Virtue Assembly attended Benjamin Franklin Boston brother Carl Van Doren Colonies common continued dear desire electrical electrised endeavour England expence father favour fire friends gave give glass glass harmonica Governor hand heard horses Jane Mecom JONATHAN SHIPLEY Keimer kind lately learned letter lived lodging London ment never observed occasion officers opinion paper Parliament Pennsylvania perhaps person PETER COLLINSON Philadelphia piece pleasure Poor Richard says Poor Richard's Almanack present printer printing house proposed Proprietaries province Quakers received respect sailed sect seems sent Smyth sometimes soon Stamp Act Street surprized thing thou thought thro tion took town Union Fire Company virtue waggons wise writing wrote young youth