The tercentennial of Benjamin Franklin’s birth in 2006 has prompted an outpouring of new scholarship on this, arguably the most famous and most remarkable, Founding Father. Edwin S. Gaustad is one of a growing list of eminent historians, including Edmund S. Morgan, Walter Isaacson and Gordon S. Wood, who have written monographs on the son of Boston soap-maker who went on to become a printer, author, inventor, civic activist, politician and statesman. In recent years, J. A. Leo Lemay has embarked on the production of a seven-volume biography: Gaustad’s slim offering is at the other end of the spectrum, in brevity if not in achievement. In 125 pages, this renowned scholar expertly covers the breadth, and considers the significance, of Franklin’s activities. Given the sheer volume of relevant material, it will not have been an easy task and it a testament to Gaustad’s experience and skill as a historian that he succeeds so effortlessly. He deftly weaves Franklin’s personal, professional and political life into a seamless narrative that acknowledges and carefully balances the diversity of Franklin’s accomplishments: this is not an account, primarily, of Franklin the scientist or Franklin the politician, but Franklin the ambitious, inquisitive, civic-minded polymath and his unparalleled contribution to American politics and society in the eighteenth century. Gaustad explores the various facets of his subject’s life and mind in surprising detail, without losing sight of Franklin’s famous wit and wisdom.

This is an immensely enjoyable read that will appeal to a wide audience. General readers seeking an accessible, engaging introduction to the life of Benjamin Franklin would do well to begin here. The inclusion of extracts from Franklin’s writings at the conclusion of each chapter effectively illuminates the theme of each section and thereby makes the volume a good choice for undergraduate teachers.