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 34
... took very kindly , while others began to consider me in an unfavourable light as a young genius that had a turn for libelling and satire . My brother's discharge was accom- panied with an order from the House ( a very odd one ) that ...
... took very kindly , while others began to consider me in an unfavourable light as a young genius that had a turn for libelling and satire . My brother's discharge was accom- panied with an order from the House ( a very odd one ) that ...
Page 57
... took another lodging , and he followed her . They lived together some time , but he being still out of business , and her income not sufficient to maintain them with her child , he took a resolution of going from London , to try for a ...
... took another lodging , and he followed her . They lived together some time , but he being still out of business , and her income not sufficient to maintain them with her child , he took a resolution of going from London , to try for a ...
Page 80
... took them privately— Bradford being unkind enough to forbid it , which oc- casioned some resentment on my part ; and I thought so meanly of him for it that when I afterwards came into his situation , I took care never to imitate it . I ...
... took them privately— Bradford being unkind enough to forbid it , which oc- casioned some resentment on my part ; and I thought so meanly of him for it that when I afterwards came into his situation , I took care never to imitate it . I ...
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