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 105
... seems proper that some account should be here given of that project and its object . Its first rise in my mind appears in the following little paper , accidentally preserved , viz . , Observations on my Reading History in Library , May ...
... seems proper that some account should be here given of that project and its object . Its first rise in my mind appears in the following little paper , accidentally preserved , viz . , Observations on my Reading History in Library , May ...
Page 296
... seems too short for a Letter ; so I will lengthen it by a little Account of our Journey . The first Stage we were rather pensive . I tried several Topics of Conversation , but none of them would hold . But after Breakfast we began to ...
... seems too short for a Letter ; so I will lengthen it by a little Account of our Journey . The first Stage we were rather pensive . I tried several Topics of Conversation , but none of them would hold . But after Breakfast we began to ...
Page 304
... seems to have occasioned some Disgust in you against Messrs . Foxcrofts for not supplying you with Money to pay for it . That you may not be offended with your Neighbours without Cause ; I must acquaint you with what it seems you did ...
... seems to have occasioned some Disgust in you against Messrs . Foxcrofts for not supplying you with Money to pay for it . That you may not be offended with your Neighbours without Cause ; I must acquaint you with what it seems you did ...
Contents
Introduction | 7 |
PART ONEThe Autobiography | 15 |
PART TWO Selected Writings | 182 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
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