I'm about to make an extremely powerful and profound statement about my assessment of Ben Franklin... I just really don't get him! Of course he... founded the first circulating library, established the first hospital in North America, invented the glass armonica, the odomenter, bifocals, the franklin stove, refrigeration, overhauled the postal system, discovered electricity, was a french diplomat, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, and a member of the FreeMasons. But what I really don't get is all his work on perfecting himself... striving to lead a 'good and honest' life when in reality he left his wife for years at a time (try 15) and stayed with a widow and her daughter in England (who I can only assume was his mistress). He didn't attend two of his daughters' weddings, wasn't there when his wife died, published 'half truths' about the Penn's because of his dislike for them, and appartently had quite a large ego. Perhaps I should read his Autobiography and maybe that will give me some insight.
I love how I think it's a great accomplishment to read these 130 page sterling biographies that are written for 8th graders. But I do learn a lot AND they're aesthetically pleasing (which is very important).
1 comment:
I too was confused by some of the "conflicting" information about B.F. (as we in the industry like to call him) but I had to admit that I liked him even more when I learned about his human idiosynchrasis.
Good synopsis, by the way.
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