Autobiography / Poor Richard / Later Writings

By: Benjamin Franklin

Published October 6th 2005 by Library of America

Category: Business

Pages: 816 pages

ISBN: 9781883011536

Description:
Note: When first issued, the Library of America edition of Franklin's Writings was collected in one large volume; later, it was published as two separate volumes.

"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 Òmy having learnt a little to scribble.Ó

This Library of America collection of FranklinÕs works begins with letters sent from London (1757Ð1775) describing the events and diplomacy preceding the Revolutionary War. The volume also contains political satires, bagatelles, pamphlets, and letters written in Paris (1776Ð1785), 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 (1785Ð1790), including his last published article, a searing satire against slavery.

Also included are the delightfully shrewd prefaces to Poor RichardÕs Almanack (1733Ð1758) and their worldly, pungent maxims that have entered our American culture. Finally, the classic Autobiography, FranklinÕs last word on his greatest literary creationÑhis own invented personalityÑis presented here in a new edition, completely faithful to FranklinÕs manuscript.

A companion volume includes the complete ÒSilence DogoodÓ series, ÒBusy-BodyÓ essays, and a generous selection of his early writings, including letters to the press, satires, and pamphlets.