description: The greatest statesman of his age, Benjamin Franklin was also a pioneering scientist, a successful author, the first American postmaster general, a printer, a bon vivant. In addition, he was a man of vast contradictions. This best-selling biography by one of our greatest historians offers a compact and provocative new portrait of America's most extraordinary patriot.
title: Benjamin Franklin
titlecomplete: Benjamin Franklin
characters: Benjamin Franklin
genres: Biography, American, Politics, American Revolution, Science, Nonfiction, American History, Biography Memoir, American Revolutionary War, History
ratings_count: 1822
awards: awardedAt: 1009872000000
name: National Book Critics Circle Award
category: Biography/Autobiography