A Little Revenge: Benjamin Franklin at War With His Son
by Willard Sterne Randall
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Almost everyone is familiar with the accomplishments of Benjamin Franklin, but few know that he had an illegitimate son named William, an intelligent young man who first served his father as a military adviser, legal counsel, and pamphleteer, eventually rising to be Royal Governor of New Jersey, only to become his father's implacable enemy. A Little Revenge is the untold story of the tortured relationship between these two extraordinary men. Benjamin hoped that through William he could found show more a political dynasty that would rival that of the Adams family.But when the American Revolution broke out and William refused to follow his father and remained loyal to the British Crown, an enmity developed that was frightening in its ferocity. When William was captured by the rebels, his father made sure he was confined to a notorious prison and intervened in Washington's attempt to free William through an exchange of prisoners. Once William did secure his freedom, he became deeply involved in the illegal execution of rebel prisoners. William was exiled to Britain, and he and Benjamin lived out their lives without ever forgiving the other. In fact, after the Revolution, they spoke only once to each other.
A Little Revenge reveals a whole other aspect to the American mythology of Benjamin Franklin and is a brand-new portrait of his fascinating son.
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Anyone who thinks the Trump or Guiliani families have their problems need to read this account of the stormy yet unpublicized personal life of Ben Franklin. No doubt, the saga could have been told in probably half the number of pages. Still, it provides intriguing glimpses into the Franklin clan, the American Revolution, Colonial America and other events.
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29+ Works 2,173 Members
Willard Sterne Randall is an American historian and author who specializes in biographies related to the American colonial period and the American Revolution. He was born on March 13, 1942 in Philadelphia, PA. His books include: A Little Revenge: Benjamin Franklin & His Son, Benedict Arnold: Patriot and Traitor, Thomas Jefferson: A Life and Ethan show more Allen: His Life and Times. Randall also teaches American history at Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, History, Biography & Memoir, General Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 973.3 — History & geography History of North America United States Revolutionary War (1775-89)
- LCC
- E302.6 .F8 .R18 — History of the United States United States Revolution to the Civil War, 1775/1783-1861 Biography (Late eighteenth century)
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- 105
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- Reviews
- 1
- Rating
- (4.30)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 1
