{"product_id":"the-life-of-benjamin-franklin-volume-2-printer-and-publisher-1731747","title":"The Life of Benjamin Franklin  Volume 2: Printer and Publisher  173-1747","description":"\u003cp\u003eNamed \"one of the best books of 2006\" by The New York Sun  Described by Carl Van Doren as \"a harmonious human multitude \" Benjamin Franklin was the most famous American of his time  of perhaps any time. His life and careers were so varied and successful that he remains  even today  the epitome of the self-made man. Born into a humble tradesmans family  this adaptable genius rose to become an architect of the worlds first democracy  a leading light in Enlightenment science  and a major creator of what has come to be known as the American character. Journalist  musician  politician  scientist  humorist  inventor  civic leader  printer  writer  publisher  businessman  founding father  philosopher  Franklin is a touchstone for Americas egalitarianism.  Volume 2 takes Franklin from his marriage in 1730 to his retirement as a printer at the beginning of 1748  examining the mysteries of the illegitimate William Franklins birth and mother and Franklins increasing civic activitiesstarting the Library Company in Philadelphia in 1731  forming Pennsylvanias first volunteer fire company  and becoming an advocate for a clean Philadelphia environment. J. A. Leo Lemay assesses Franklins numerous writings  attributing to him for the first time a deistic Indian speech  remarking on his use of the second African American persona in journalism  and analyzing his publishing sensation of 1747  The Speech of Miss Polly Baker. These belletristic works are complemented by Franklins religious  political  and scientific writings  which he produced prodigiously.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44952381489205,"sku":"ByrdShop_0812238559","price":44.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780812238556.jpg?v=1770161611","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-life-of-benjamin-franklin-volume-2-printer-and-publisher-1731747","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}