Benjamin Franklin

Walter Isaacson's biography celebrates the life of one of American history's most fascinating and complex characters. Tracing Franklin's roots from birth to the various stages of his adult life--shopkeeper, inventor, statesman--Isaacson details every facet of Franklin, including some of his more scandalous adventures. The result is a portrait of not just the well-known diplomat, but also a portrait of the brilliant, manipulative, and shrewd person whom the public did not always see. Nelson Runger reads with an air of authority and eloquence that permits the biography to flow smoothly. While the book is lengthy--and some may prefer an abridgment--Isaacson's attention to detail and Runger's powerful performance combine to make a work that many will consider the definitive biography of this Founding Father. D.J.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine