Benjamin Franklin：Autobiography, Poor Richard, and Later Writings

"WritinghasbeenofGreatUsetomeintheCourseofmyLife,"BenjaminFranklinsaidinhisfamousAutobiography.Withcharacteristicallycalculatedunderstatement,heattributedhisenormousandvariedsuccessesto"myhavinglearntalittletoscribble."ThiscollectionofFranklin'sworksbeginswithletterssentfromLondon(1757-1775)describingtheeventsanddiplomacyprecedingtheRevolutionaryWar.Thevolumealsocontainspoliticalsatires,bagatelles,pamphlets,andletterswritteninParis(1776-1785),whereherepresentedtherevolutionaryUnitedStatesatthecourtofLouisXVI,aswellashisspeechesgivenintheConstitutionalConventionandotherworkswritteninPhiladelphia(1785-1790),includinghislastpublishedarticle,asearingsatireagainstslavery.AlsoincludedarethedelightfullyshrewdprefacestoPoorRichard'sAlmanack(1733-1758)andtheirworldly,pungentmaximsthathaveenteredourAmericanculture.Finally,theclassicAutobiography,Franklin'slastwordonhisgreatestliterarycreation-hisowninventedpersonality-ispresentedhereinanewedition,completelyfaithfultoFranklin'smanuscript.Acompanionvolumeincludesthecomplete"SilenceDogood"series,"Busy-Body"essays,andagenerousselectionofhisearlywritings,includingletterstothepress,satires,andpamphlets.