Benjamin Franklin: His Life As He Wrote It

Library Journal

Wright's new edition of Franklin's Autobiography supplements the usual text with other autobiographical writings. It ``tells the Franklin story as a continuous chronological narrative, drawing on all the varied material as it becomes appropriate.'' The book is divided into eight chapters, and the Autobiography , itself reorganized, is heavily interspersed with some five dozen letters and numerous other notes, essays, diary entries, speeches, interviews, and articles. The result both plugs some holes in the original and extends the life beyond 1758, when the Autobiography ends. Wright provides transitional paragraphs. All Franklin buffs will appreciate this.--Harry W. Fritz, Univ. of Montana, Missoula

Booknews

Fills out the Autobiography, which stops at 1757, before Franklin's 25 years of foreign service, and which plays down his scientific interests and omits his pseudonymous writing. Franklin biographer Wright (emeritus, history, U. of London) draws on Franklin's letters and writings to complete the task. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)