Benjamin Franklin: Autobiography, Poor Richard, and Later Writings (LOA #37b)

Benjamin Franklin, J. A. Leo Lemay

Library of America, 1997 - Biography & Autobiography - 816 pages

"Writing has been of Great Use to me in the Course of my Life," Benjamin Franklin said in his famous Autobiography. With characteristically calculated understatement, he attributed his enormous and varied successes to “my having learnt a little to scribble.”

This Library of America collection of Franklin’s works begins with letters sent from London (1757–1775) describing the events and diplomacy preceding the Revolutionary War. The volume also contains political satires, bagatelles, pamphlets, and letters written in Paris (1776–1785), where he represented the revolutionary United States at the court of Louis XVI, as well as his speeches given in the Constitutional Convention and other works written in Philadelphia (1785–1790), including his last published article, a searing satire against slavery.

Also included are the delightfully shrewd prefaces to Poor Richard’s Almanack (1733–1758) and their worldly, pungent maxims that have entered our American culture. Finally, the classic Autobiography, Franklin’s last word on his greatest literary creation—his own invented personality—is presented here in a new edition, completely faithful to Franklin’s manuscript.

A companion volume includes the complete “Silence Dogood” series, “Busy-Body” essays, and a generous selection of his early writings, including letters to the press, satires, and pamphlets.

LIBRARY OF AMERICA is an independent nonprofit cultural organization founded in 1979 to preserve our nation’s literary heritage by publishing, and keeping permanently in print, America’s best and most significant writing. The Library of America series includes more than 300 volumes to date, authoritative editions that average 1,000 pages in length, feature cloth covers, sewn bindings, and ribbon markers, and are printed on premium acid-free paper that will last for centuries.

Contents

• LETTERS: 9
• Jane Mecom January 9 1760: 24
• Mary Stevenson November? 1760: 38

About the author

One of 17 children, Benjamin Franklin was born in Boston on January 17, 1706. He ended his formal education at the age of 10 and began working as an apprentice at a newspaper. Running away to Philadelphia at 17, he worked for a printer, later opening his own print shop. Franklin was a man of many talents and interests. As a writer, he published a colonial newspaper and the well-known Poor Richard's Almanack, which contains his famous maxims. He authored many political and economic works, such as The Way To Wealth and Journal of the Negotiations for Peace. He is responsible for many inventions, including the Franklin stove and bifocal eyeglasses. He conducted scientific experiments, proving in one of his most famous ones that lightning and electricity were the same. As a politically active citizen, he helped draft the Declaration of Independence and lobbied for the adoption of the U.S. Constitution. He also served as ambassador to France. He died in April of 1790 at the age of 84.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Benjamin Franklin: Autobiography, Poor Richard, and Later Writings (LOA #37b); Volume 37 of DE-601)374069697: Library of America series; Volume 2 of Library of America Benjamin Franklin Edition; Library of America, Library of America
• Authors: Benjamin Franklin, J. A. Leo Lemay
• Editor: J. A. Leo Lemay
• Contributor: J. A. Leo Lemay
• Edition: 6, illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Library of America, 1997
• Original from: the University of Michigan
• Digitized: Aug 10, 2010
• ISBN: 1883011531, 9781883011536
• Length: 816 pages
• Subjects: Biography & Autobiography / Historical; Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs; Biography & Autobiography / Political; Fiction / General; History / United States / Colonial Period (1600-1775); History / United States / Revolutionary Period (1775-1800); Literary Collections / American / General