Bibliograph

Autobiography and other writings, Benjamin Franklin ; edited by Ormond Seavey

Type

Label

Autobiography and other writings, Benjamin Franklin ; edited by Ormond Seavey

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references (pages xxiv-xxvi)

resource.biographical

autobiography

Index

no index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

Autobiography and other writings

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

25787951

Responsibility statement

Benjamin Franklin ; edited by Ormond Seavey

Series statement

The World's classics

Summary

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

Table Of Contents

Silence Dogood -- To 'your honour': defense of James Franklin to Samuel Sewall -- 1726 Journal -- Busy-body -- Epitaph -- On simplicity -- The death of infants -- Letter of Josiah & Abiah Franklin -- Apology for the young man in goal -- Old mistresses apologue -- The speech of Miss Polly baker -- Observations concerning the increase of mankind -- The kite experiment -- The way to wealth -- Poor Richard's maxims -- 'Homespun's' further defense of Indian corn -- An edict by the King of Prussia -- Letter of William Strahan -- Letter to Benjamin Vaughan -- The whistle -- Letter to George Washington -- Letter to Joseph Priestley -- Remarks concerning the savages of North-America -- Information to those who would remove to America -- Letter to Samuel Mather -- Letter to William Franklin -- The art of procuring pleasant dreams -- The internal state of America -- Speech in the Constitutional Convention at the conclusion of its deliberations -- Letter to Ezra Stiles

Classification

Contributor