Sally gunning the bastard son of benjamin franklin, william franklin, is named the new royal governor of new jersey, but all he has achieved is threatened when the colonies, led by influential figures including. Benjamin franklin s father, josiah franklin, was a tallow chandler, soaper, and candlemaker. Benjamin frankilns bastard by sally cabot is an absorbing and compelling work. What challenges do you think writers face when interweaving fact and fiction. We all know the story of benjamin franklin the founding father, the author, printer. Even that icon of patriotism, founding father benjamin franklin, is portrayed as a complex man filled with oftenconflicting emotions and motivations. An enticing read for history buffs, cabots novel fluidly captures the changing political climate of 18thcentury. Benjamin franklins bastard chattanooga public library. Although it had a tortuous publication history after franklin s death, this work has become one of the most famous and influential examples of an autobiography ever written. Josiah franklin was born at ecton, northamptonshire, england on december 23, 1657, the son of blacksmith and farmer thomas franklin and jane white. An american life begins by touching on his childhood as best as it can considering the lack of material to work with.
Benjamin franklin s bastard by sally cabot a work of literary historical fiction, set in colonial philadelphia, that brings to life a littleknown chapter of the american revolutionour cape cod authoress. Benjamin franklin s bastard by sally cabot about the book an absorbing and compelling work of literary historical fiction, set in colonial philadelphia, that brings to life a littleknown chapter of the american revolution the story of benjamin franklin, his bastard son and the women who loved them. The novel mixes fictional characters with historical events or people, to tell the story of the united states of america in the time period leading up to the american revolution. Benjamin s father and all four of his grandparents were born in england josiah franklin had a total of seventeen children with his two wives. Confusion exists about franklin s birth and parentage because benjamin franklin. The bastard is a historical novel written by john jakes and originally published in 1974.
This illegitimate son is raised by benjamins wife, deborah. He was the illegitimate son of benjamin franklin, a leading figure in the city. Fascinating and heartbreaking, benjamin franklin s bastard is a gripping tale of family, love, and war, set against one of americas most fascinating periods of history. A novel by sally cabot who also writes under the name sally gunning, we get a look at a different benjamin franklin altogether. Benjamin franklin s bastard is a novel of historical fiction. A poignant tale of passion, family, love, and war, benjamin franklin s bastard skillfully brings into focus a cast of remarkable characters drawn from real life, and vividly recreates one of the most remarkable and thrilling periods of history the birth of the american nation. Benjamin frankilns bastard by sally cabot is an absorbing and compelling work of literary historical fiction that brings to life a little. William franklin was born in philadelphia, pennsylvania, then a colony in british america.
Sally cabots benjamin franklins bastard is an outstanding work of historical fiction, filled with characters so lifelike and true that the reader can imagine them behaving exactly as the novel presents. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Benjamin franklin s bastard is a novel i couldnt put down. The autobiography of benjamin franklin is the traditional name for the unfinished record of his own life written by benjamin franklin from 1771 to 1790. Cabot debuts by bringing to life ben franklins wife, lover and illegitimate son. Benjamin franklins bastard is a novel of historical fiction. What led benjamin franklin to live estranged from his wife for nearly two decades. William franklin, the son of benjamin and his favorite mistress, anne. Benjamin franklin s bastard quotes showing 11 of 1. Harper audio firm an absorbing and compelling work of literary historical fiction, set in colonial philadelphia, that brings to life a littleknown chapter of the american revolutionthe story of benjamin franklin. Benjamin franklins bastard is a captivating historical fiction novel that tells the story of william franklin the son of benjamin franklin and his mistress, anne.
William martin, new york times bestselling author of cape cod and the lincoln letter. Benjamin franklins bastard by sally cabot goodreads. He was the eleventh child of josiah franklin, a candle maker. He gave us the lightening rod, the franklin stove, bifocals, and poor richards almanack. Franklin s father put him in grammar school to become a minister, but soon took him out again because he could not afford it. Benjamin franklins bastard by sally cabot book club. The bastard son of benjamin franklin, william franklin, is named the new royal governor of new jersey, but all he has achieved is threatened when the colonies, led by influential figures including his own father, begin the fight for independencea cause he refuses to support subtitle from dust jacket. Benjamin franklins bastard king county library system. Benjamin franklins bastard book by sally cabot gunning. An absorbing and compelling work of literary historical fiction, set in colonial philadelphia, that brings to life a littleknown chapter of the american revolutionthe story of benjamin franklin and his bastard son, and the women who loved themsixteenyearold anne is an uneducated serving. The bastard son of benjamin franklin, william franklin, is named the new royal governor of new jersey, but all he has achieved is threatened when the colonies, led by influential figures including his own father, begin the fight for independence a cause he refuses to support. After that, isaacson takes the reader through a more detailed account of franklin s early entrepreneurial life, through his many inventions, and into his later statesmen days. What did you take away from reading benjamin franklins bastard.
Benjamin frankilns bastard by sally cabot is an absorbing and compelling work of literary historical fiction that brings to life a littleknown chapter of the american revolution the story of benjamin franklin and his bastard son, and the women who loved them both. What led benjamin franklin to live estranged from his wife. Benjamin franklins bastard by sally cabot overdrive. William franklin, the son of benjamin and his favorite mistress, anne, is raised by deborah, benjamin s. Benjamin franklin s bastard by sally cabot is an absorbing and compelling work of literary historical fiction that brings to life a littleknown chapter of the american revolution the story of benjamin franklin and his bastard son, and the women who loved them both. Benjamin frankilns bastard by sally cabot is an absorbing and compelling work of literary historical fiction that brings to life a littleknown chapter of the american revolution the story of benjamin franklin and his bastard son, and the women who loved them both william franklin, the son of benjamin and his favorite mistress, anne, is raised by deborah, benjamin s wife. A stunning new theory suggests that a debate over the failed treatment of their sons smallpox was the culprit. Benjamin franklin s bastard audiobook, by sally cabot. History doesnt identify william franklins mother, but cabot imagines a strong, courageous and intelligent woman named anne, a refugee from ragtag eades alley in prerevolutionary philadelphia. It is book one in a series known as the kent family chronicles or the american bicentennial series.
Benjamin franklin was born in boston on january 6, 1706. An enticing read for history buffs, cabots novel fluidly captures the changing political climate of 18thcentury philadelphia and its star, the brilliant, entertaining, and innovative benjamin fran. Benjamin franklins bastard charleston county public. Now, this is a very much fictionalized account of bens life, but it does happen to be mired in fact fact which, frankly, shocked me. About the author sally cabot lives in brewster, massachusetts, with her husband, tom. Benjamin franklins bastard is a novel i couldnt put down. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading benjamin franklin s bastard. What was one of the most memorable moments of benjamin franklin s bastard. I dont really listen or read books again too many new ones out there but on the basis of if this was a good listen then yes i would. We all know the story of benjamin franklin the founding father, the author, printer, scientist. A novel was a good historical novel that gave an insight of living in colonial philadelphia and of benjamin s political and scientific mind. I wasnt aware there were rumors of illegitimate children and his way of fixing things, it was interesting that anne followed williams life without his knowledge and then. Benjamin frankiln s bastard by sally cabot is an absorbing and compelling work of literary historical fiction that brings to life a littleknown chapter of the american revolution the story of benjamin franklin and his bastard son, and the women who loved them both.
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