Franklin: The Essential Founding FatherHistorian and biographer James Srodes tells Benjamin Franklin's incredible life story, making full use of the previously neglected Franklin papers to provide the most riveting account yet of the journalist, scientist, polilician, and unlikely adventurer. From London, Paris, Philadelphia to his numerous romantic liaisons, Franklin's life becomes a panorama of dramatic history. |
Contents
Prologue | 3 |
Traits and Prospects | 11 |
Hope and Glory | 33 |
The Pursuit of Virute | 47 |
Rising Citizen | 63 |
The Eminent Mr Franklin | 77 |
Join or Die | 101 |
First Blood | 121 |
Revolution | 257 |
Declaring for Liberty | 273 |
The Diplomacy of War | 289 |
Winning Recognition | 305 |
Dismal Days | 321 |
The Final Round | 337 |
The Struggle for Peace | 353 |
Home at Last | 369 |
A New Nemesis | 141 |
Degrees and Separation | 153 |
Rejection and Return | 167 |
Back to London | 183 |
Countdown to Revolution | 197 |
The Death of a Dream | 217 |
To the Brink of War | 237 |
Epilogue | 387 |
Notes | 393 |
Bibliography | 407 |
Acknowledgments | 415 |
Index | 417 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
agent allies American colonies American Revolution arrived Arthur Lee Assembly became began Benjamin Franklin Boston Brillon Britain British brother Chapter Collinson colonists common Congress Craven Street Deane debate Deborah Deborah Read Declaration Delaware delegates Doren early electrical England English father final force France Franklin knew French friends Grenville Ibid important independence Indian issue James Jefferson John Adams Josiah Keimer King George King George III King Louis king's land later letters London Lord North Louis XVI Massachusetts ment merchants militia minister moved nation never newspaper North ministry official once Papers Paris Parliament Passy peace Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pitt political Polly printer printing proprietors Quaker Richard Richard Bache sent Shelburne ships Silas Deane slaves Stevenson Thomas Penn tion took trade treaty troops University Press Vergennes Virginia wanted Washington West William women wrote York young