"The story of the life of Benjamin Franklin begins at a time when Queen Anne still ruled the colonies ... At a time when witches were plentiful in New England; when foxes troubled the farmers of Lynn; when wolves and panthers abounded in Connecticut." So begins McMaster's honest and entertaining biography of Benjamin Franklin. Benjamin Franklin is often given the title "The First American" for his tireless advocacy for the colonies to form a union. He was, aside from being an inventor, politician, diplomat, and scientist, a prolific author. While his published works are well known, his letters are a great source of inspiration. This volume offers a small glimpse of his prolific correspondence, highlighting his time as a diplomat to France, the development of the Farmers' Almanac, and the steps he often engineered leading to the creation of the United States. They allow readers to glimpse some of Franklin's humour, rapier wit, and penetrating intellect. Far from a dry character, Franklin had a curiosity which fuelled an interest in everything, and in this volume reveals himself as a true lover of all aspects of life. An wonderful account of the life of a famous, sometimes infamous man, McMaster's American Men of Letters: Benjamin Franklin, is masterful and down to earth.
