Carl Van Doren received the 1938 Pulitzer Prize in Biography for this work. It contains the most extensive collection of Benjamin Franklin's autobiographical writings, much of which was long out-of-print. Also included are some fifty letters written by Franklin that was never published before.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
46 of 47 people found the following review helpful
By Mike Powers
Format:Paperback
"Benjamin Franklin" is a wonderfully written biography of perhaps the greatest American who ever lived. Author Carl Van Doren presents a rich and detailed portrait of Franklin - printer, writer, philosopher, scientist, inventor, politician, statesman, and one of the founding fathers of the United States of America.
By tracing the major influences on Franklin, and the key events of his life, Van Doren presents this self-educated genius as the apotheosis of the 18th century "Enlightened" man. Imbued with an insatiable intellectual appetite, a keen scientific mind, a high sense of morality, and a fervent patriotism, he was shrewd, wise, witty, and always confident in his own limitless abilities. The author describes in detail the great events of Franklin's life - his youth and young adulthood as a printer and writer of Poor Richard's Almamack; the philosopher, scientist and inventor of note; Postmaster General for Pennsylvania, and later for all the colonies; representative of the American colonies to Great Britain at the time of the American Revolution; signer of the Declaration of Independence; U.S. Ambassador to France after the Revolution; and signer of the U.S. Constitution.
As good a biography as this is, "Benjamin Franklin" is also outstanding history. Van Doren skillfully "paints" Franklin's portrait against the backdrop of the tremendous social ferment, scientific awakening, and tumultuous political events which occurred during the second half of the 18th century. I gained not only a fuller understanding of Franklin's life and great genius, but also a greater appreciation of the times in which he lived.
"Benjamin Franklin" is written with grace, clarity and obviously great scholarship. Winner of the 1959 Pulitzer Prize for biography, it is a brilliant masterpiece - one of the best biographies of any person I've ever read!
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
My summer project was to read biographies of our Founding Fathers. I was not looking forward to this rather daunting book and have never been so completely turned around on a subject. Van Doren masterfully handles an immense amount of factual information in such a way that makes this biography read like a novel. I love Ben Franklin! Thank you Carl Van Doren.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio Cassette
Van Doren's biography of Franklin is nothing short of remarkable. While the author may be faulted for the near veneration of his subject, Franklin's continuing reputation supports the author's obvious admiration of Franklin. Franklin's life is reviewed from start to finish almost as a metaphor for the 18th Century enlightenment, the early colonlial life in America, the beginnings of the industrial revolution, the decadence and decline of British Imperialism, as well as the making and maturation of a true genius and renaissance man. Parallel with the swiftly changing account of the myriad activities of Franklin is the story of a truly fine human being; a man whose essentially humble and self deprecating nature belied his strength of character and integrity. Anyone who reads this book will come away awed by this unique individual and the question: Where are the Franklins of our time?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
A life less ordinary
1991 Penguin Books reissue of 1st edition (1938), 862 pages (of which 782 pages form the main body of the book). Read more
Published on February 19, 2008 by Andrew Barrett
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best biography on the planet!
I'm a big Van Doren Bio fan, and a bigger Ben Franklin fan. Carl captures the essence of the scoundrel Franklin. This is a bigger than life, juicy life. Read more
Published on February 14, 2007 by C. E. Schaeffer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stellar, all-encompassing view of one of the great lives led
With this hefty tome, Carl Van Doren succeeds in authoring a compelling biography equal to the intellectual scope and achievement of his subject, Benjamin Franklin. Read more
Published on March 4, 2005 by SKB Greystone
5.0 out of 5 stars
This is an epic biography worthy of a Pulitzer.
I have not read Cabel's bio from 1918 on Franklin but this one by Carl van Doren might be the best. I tend to discount autobiographies as they tend to be highly partisan & even... Read more
Published on January 26, 2005 by JOHN GODFREY
4.0 out of 5 stars
If you could invite one person to dinner, who would it be?
After reading "Benjamin Franklin", he would be the one person -- dead or living -- who would make the most fascinating dinner guest for an evening. Read more
Published on May 14, 2003
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bravo!
This remarkable, scholarly, and readable book brings the reader face-to-face with what seems an impossible life. Read more
Published on March 25, 2003 by Paul Odgren
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exhaustive detail, excellent writing
Sure, this book was written before my parents were born, but it seems to stand the test of time very well. Read more
Published on June 7, 2001 by Anaxagoras
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Original American Renaissance Man!
Van Doren's biography, long the definitive biography of Franklin, is rich in detail (sometimes exhaustingly so), yet accurately portrays the life of this fascinating multi-faceted... Read more
Published on January 24, 2001 by Steven K. Szmutko
5.0 out of 5 stars
Here! Here!
In my many years studying the history of our great nation and others, a carelessness of sorts followed my endeavors on Benjamin Franklin. Read more
Published on November 16, 2000 by James
5.0 out of 5 stars
1939 Pulitzer Prize winner deserves reading
As I get around to it I read Pulitzer Prize winners and when I came across this one I decided to read it, tho Franklin did not seem too interesting to me when I first learned about... Read more
Published on June 4, 2000 by Schmerguls
Citations (learn more)
100
books
cite this book:
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- Rosicrucian Digest 1949 by Rosicrucian Editors on 6 pages
- Countdown to Independence by Natalie S. Bober on 6 pages
- Doctor Franklin's Medicine by Stanley Finger on 5 pages
- Native American Speakers of the Eastern Woodlands: Selected Speeches and Critical Analyses (Contributions to the Study of Mass Media and Communications) by Barbara Alice Mann on 5 pages
- Rosicrucian Digest 1950 by Rosicrucian Editors on 4 pages
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