The Classic Ten

FromthemostrespectedchronicleroftheearlydaysoftheRepublic—andwinnerofboththePulitzerandBancroftprizes—comesalandmarkworkthatrescuesBenjaminFranklinfromamythologythathasblindedgenerationsofAmericanstothemanhereallywasandmakessenseofaspectsofhislifeandcareerthatwouldhaveotherwiseremainedmysterious.Inplaceofthegenialpolymath,self-improver,andquintessentialAmerican,GordonS.Woodrevealsafiguremuchmoreambiguousandcomplex—andmuchmoreinteresting.ChartingthepassageofFranklin'slifeandreputationfromrelativepopularindifference(hisdeath,whiletheoccasionformassmourninginFrance,waswidelyignoredinAmerica)toposthumousglory,TheAmericanizationofBenjaminFranklinshedsinvaluablelightontheemergenceofourcountry'sideaofitself.