Benjamin Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanack was first published in 1733. Facing heavy competition from similar publications, Franklin took the unusual and controversial approach of injecting witty, unexpected entries between standard tables of tides, planetary motion, weather predictions and other facts. In the debut edition, faithfully reproduced here, he included under the heading Principal Kings of Europe, "Poor Richard, an American Prince, without subjects, his wife being Viceroy over him, born October 23, 1684, age 49." The Almanack went on to become the most popular book of it's kind in...

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; however, Franklin himself appears to have called the work his Memoirs. Although it had a tortuous publication history after Franklin's death, this work has become one of the most famous and influential examples of autobiography ever written. Franklin's account of his life is divided into four parts, reflecting the different periods at which he wrote them. There are actual breaks in the narrative between the first three parts, but Part Three's...

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin details the life of this famous Founding Father, inventor, philosopher, satirist, political theorist, statesman, and diplomat. Franklin's irreverent, yet intelligent and pure-intentioned, thoughts on life shaped the idea of what it means to be both a free thinker and a United States citizen. Follow the accomplishments of this influential man in his own words, and discover a life well spent.

Considered one of the most famous and popular works in American literature, this work has been said to be the first American book to be taken seriously by Europeans as a literary work.

Considered one of the most famous and popular works in American literature, this work has been said to be the first American book to be taken seriously by Europeans as a literary work.