The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin by H. W. Brands

Very informative but a bit on the dull side

The First American, published in 2000, is a biography of Benjamin Franklin written by H. W. Brands, a professor of history at the University of Texas who has published about 40 books, many of them, like this one, written for a general reading audience. The First American was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in history. Having previously read Franklin’s incomplete Autobiography, I was looking for a more detailed account of this Founding Father’s life, one accessible to a nonhistorian. I was satisfied with the education I received from this book, but it wasn’t as engaging of a read as some of the other Founding Father biographies I’ve read from among recent bestsellers.

Brands has clearly done his research. It seems unlikely he left any sizable stones unturned. This is a very comprehensive and informative account of Franklin’s life filled with much detail. I just found it rather boring. Of course, Franklin did not lead a boring life. The problem, therefore, is that Brands chose to focus on aspects of Franklin’s life that didn’t really interest me so much personally. I work in the printing and publishing industries, so I was happy to read about Franklin’s career in those fields. Brands, however, is so admiring of Franklin’s writing that he wants to reproduce every clever turn of phrase, allegorical anecdote, and bon mot that Franklin ever put to paper. In particular, Brands seems a little obsessed with Poor Richard’s Almanac, to which he devotes much ink. The result often reads more like a book of quotations than a biography. Brands states that, “The primary source for any life of Benjamin Franklin is Franklin himself,” and Brands has certainly diligently mined his subject’s published writing and correspondence. What the book could have used more of is perspectives on Franklin from his contemporaries.

Real estate deals and legal proceedings are also favorite subjects of Brands that are discussed at length, with every dollar or pound amount meticulously enumerated. During his lifetime, Franklin was the world’s most famous American largely due to his scientific achievements. Although Brands does occasionally touch on Franklin’s career as a scientist (or natural philosopher, as they used to be called), I really wish there had been more on that aspect of his life rather than the constant praising of Franklin’s literary endeavours and witty correspondence.

Another problem with the book is that Franklin often seems like a supporting character in his own biography. Brands supplies so much historical context that Franklin is absent from the book for too many pages at a time. Lengthy asides are devoted to William Pitt and George III, for example, and much more than I ever wanted to know about British Parliament. Obviously, Franklin played a major role in the founding of the United States of America. He did so, however, mostly in London and Paris, so the reader gets more on diplomatic history in Europe than on the Revolutionary War in America. When Brands does cover the Revolution, it often feels like an unnecessarily lengthy aside. Why do we need a blow-by-blow account of the hardships at Valley Forge or the Battle of Yorktown, for example, when Franklin was on the other side of the Atlantic?

Even having said all that, I have to admit I did get a thorough education on Franklin and some insight into his personality. I just never felt compelled to move on to the next chapter. Unlike, say, Ron Chernow’s book on George Washington, reading The First American felt more like a chore than a labor of love. Given the fascinating life that Franklin led, and the impact he had on American and world history, that really shouldn’t have been a problem.

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The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Healthy, wealthy, and wise
Benjamin Franklin began writing his autobiography in 1771 for the benefit of his son William. When he died in 1790, the work was unfinished. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin was first published in France in 1791, and in England in 1793. Since then, as more material was discovered more was added to the text of subsequent editions. The editions in print today generally consist of four parts, covering Franklin’s life up to about 1758. It’s a relatively brief work—given Franklin’s extensive accomplishments—and written in a brisk, unassuming, and conversational tone. Despite its advanced age, the language is surprisingly contemporary with few awkward passages to impede modern readers. In fact, 21st century readers can still learn much from Franklin. His autobiography is not only a history lesson but also a sort of self-help book in which Franklin divulges his wisdom on life.

If you’ve ever worked in the printing industry (as I have), you’ll enjoy the book all the more. The first half of the book details his course in establishing himself as a printer and newspaper publisher in Philadelphia. Book lovers will appreciate the details Franklin provides on his founding of America’s first public library. This institution grew out of a club called the Junto which Franklin formed with several friends, to aid each other in mutual intellectual and moral improvement. Franklin is very candid about his religious views, describing himself early on as a deist, meaning he believes that God created the universe but does not interfere in the natural course of the universe. Though his views disagree with those of the prominent Christian sects of his day, he recognized the social and moral benefits of organized religion, participated in religious services, and appreciated a well-written, practical sermon.

The Autobiography is a practical sermon in and of itself, as Franklin outlines his own personal guide to the good life. He presents his plan for attaining “moral perfection,” listing 13 essential virtues, and his attempts to cultivate each of them. Though he readily admits he never achieved the perfection he sought, he avers that his life has benefited greatly from trying. And looking at his life, that’s an assertion that’s hard to dispute. Reading The Autobiography harkens one back to a time when a gentleman of a certain class, through intelligence and hard work, could literally achieve whatever he wanted in life. Opportunities abounded, and Franklin took full advantage of them. Prior to the age of specialization, he was able to excel in business, politics, philosophy, letters, and science.

Despite the great admiration I have for Franklin, even I have to admit there are some extremely yawnworthy passages here, but it’s worth slogging through them to get to the good stuff. I found Franklin’s political endeavors the least interesting, such as when he recounts certain legislative squabbles in great detail. There’s also an entire chapter on how he acquired horses and wagons at the request of the British military. Those hoping for cameos by Washington, Jefferson, and the like will be disappointed. All this took place before the Revolution, of course, and the only names likely to be recognized by history buffs are perhaps those of various British governors.

I’m sure there are more complete biographies of Franklin out there, but there’s certainly something to be said for getting one’s history straight from the horse’s mouth. Though you may not get the full story of his life, reading The Autobiography will surely give you a taste of what it might have been like to meet this remarkable man and bask in his wise and witty conversation.
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