In this unusual study of Benjamin Franklin's personal
relationships, Middlekauff (History/Univ. of Calif., Berkeley; The
Mathers, 1971, etc.) points out that the beloved American sage and
statesman had enemies who hated him and whom he hated in return.
Carl Van Doren called Franklin a "harmonious human multitude." In
contrast to this popular image, Middlekauff depicts Franklin as a
man of profoundly contradictory qualities who was often anything
but "harmonious." For instance, Franklin loathed the autocratic
proprietor of the Pennsylvania colony, Thomas Penn, for attempting
to stanch democracy in the colony and for failure to defend the
Pennsylvania frontier from Indian attacks. For his part,
Middlekauff writes, Penn hated Franklin, recognizing in him a man
of ability who sought to take the colony away from the Penn family.
Also, despite years of admiring the British Empire, Franklin came
to detest England and all of its institutions in light of the
crisis that led to the American Revolution and the cruelty of the
British war effort. The war also cost him his close relationship
with his son William, the royal governor of New Jersey at the war's
outset and a prominent Tory throughout. And as Middlekauff points
out, even on the patriot side there were those who disliked and
distrusted him: Arthur Lee, Ralph Izard, and John Adams, other
American diplomats in Paris when Franklin was forging the key
strategic relationship with France, resented Franklin's brilliant
success with the French, his acceptance of the relaxed morality of
French court life, and his expertise in the game of European
diplomacy. For all this, Middlekauff's study does not really
disturb the popular image of Franklin; in most of the cases he
recounts, Franklin had reason to dislike his adversaries. And
despite this, as the author points out, Franklin generally regarded
his enemies "with some serenity, much as he might have regarded
wayward children." An original contribution to the extensive
literature on Franklin. (Kirkus Reviews)
Although he was greatly admired at home and abroad, Benjamin
Franklin had a darker side. In uncovering a little-known aspect of
the man's personality - his passionate anger - Middlekauff reveals
a fully human Franklin, one whose life was not without its hostile
relationships and great disappointments. With few exceptions,
Benjamin Franklin's enemies were made in politics: his early
adversaries, the Penns, viewed him as a colonial upstart; his later
enemies, most notably John Adams and Arthur Lee, saw him as morally
corrupt. Franklin's opponents neither shared his wider vision of
the world nor appreciated his sophisticated understanding of power
in matters of diplomacy. At the same time, Franklin's judgment
could desert him and honorable instincts fail him, leaving him open
to the enmity of others. Franklin's greatest sorrow came from his
son, William, whose loyalty to Britain made him a traitor in his
father's eyes. More than politics was at play, however: Franklin
felt a son should put aside his principles in favour of his
father's. Refusing to reconcile with William, even after America
won independence, Franklin let his vaunted sense of reason overrule
his heart. Utilizing archiv
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
