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LOOKBOOK
For the Benjamin Republished Franklin biography a real page turner
By Matt Robinson
If the green-toned , wallet-sized ones are any indication , many people appreciate a good portrait of Ben Franklin . And while there are plenty from which to choose ( including the Founding Father ' s formidable autobiography and books by ....), the recently republished rendition by historian Thomas Fleming is a good introduction not only to the man himself but also to the world in which he lived ( and , many would say , helped shape ).
Ben Franklin : Inventing America ( Quarto ) is a relatively slim tome that takes readers not only through the life of Founder Franklin , but also through the lives of and interactions with the people who impacted his path ( and vice versa ). From his own son William and grandson William Temple Franklin to other notable colleagues such as General-turned-President George Washington , eponymous heir to a Colonial bounty Thomas Penn , Pennsylvania Governor William Keith , and some of Franklin ' s many female friends and acquaintances ( many of whom are depicted in a helpful character gallery at book ' s end , which comes just before an equally helpful timeline that follows and guides the book ), Fleming ' s wellresearched volume reveals the drama that followed Franklin both internally and externally . As such , the book reads as much as a soap opera as a history , with wives and lovers , double-crossing children , and danger at every turn . Along the way , however , Franklin is still able to invent bifocals , found the first university in the New World , and- oh yes- help forge a new nation .
Other than somewhat odd illustrations at the head of each chapter ( which divide the book into easy to digest pieces such as " The Apprentice ," " The Postmaster ," " The Revolutionary " and " The Joker "), the images that fill the book are informative and clearly sought after as well , making it clear that Fleming ' s diligent homework may very well make yours easier .
So , even if you have ne ' er a picture of the great statesman and scholar in your wallet or on your wall , adding this book to your bookshelf is a fine start indeed !
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