Benjamin Franklin
“Benjamin Franklin” by Kevin J. Hayes, published by Reaktion Books on March 11, 2022, offers a detailed exploration of the life and work of Benjamin Franklin, a prominent figure in American history. This 224-page biography presents an action-packed retelling that begins with Franklin’s experiences at eighteen in London, highlighting how these formative moments influenced his intellectual and personal development. Hayes’s approach diverges from traditional biographies by incorporating new information and situating Franklin within his broader literary and cultural context.
Readers will find a comprehensive account of Franklin’s multifaceted career, including his roles as a printer, scientist, colonial agent, diplomat, and participant in the American Revolution and the Constitutional Convention. The narrative emphasizes Franklin’s contributions to various fields, including science and technology, while also reflecting on his historical significance in the United States. This edition provides a fresh perspective on a well-documented life, making it a valuable resource for those interested in biography and historical accounts.
Official synopsis Publisher
An action-packed retelling of the life and work of the polymath and so-called First American, Benjamin Franklin.
All Benjamin Franklin biographers face a major challenge: they must compete with their subject. In one of the greatest autobiographies in world literature, Franklin has already told his own story, and subsequent biographers have often taken Franklin at his word. In this exciting new account, Kevin J. Hayes takes a different approach.
Hayes begins when Franklin is eighteen and stranded in London, describing how the collection of curiosities he viewed there fundamentally shaped Franklin’s intellectual and personal outlook. Subsequent chapters take in Franklin’s career as a printer, his scientific activities, his role as a colonial agent, his participation in the American Revolution, his service as a diplomat, and his participation in the Constitutional Convention. Containing much new information about Franklin’s life and achievements, Hayes’s critical biography situates Franklin within his literary and cultural milieu.
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