Benjamin Franklin

By: Carl Van Doren

Narrated by: Patrick Cullen

From his beginnings as a journalist at age 16, to his retirement from public affairs at 82, there was no break in Benjamin Franklin's activity and accomplishments. A writer, inventor, and statesman, he remains unsurpassed in the range of his natural gifts and the important uses to which he put them.

In this Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, Carl Van Doren incorporates materials from Franklin's letters, manuscripts, journals, and published works to give the most accurate and comprehensive portrait ever written of this great American.

©1966 Anne Van Doren Ross, Margaret Van Doren Bevans, and Barbara Van Doren Klaw (P)1995 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A review of Mr. Van Doren's Benjamin Franklin can be nothing short of a eulogy. The greatest American has found a biographer worthy of him." ( The Nation)
"Patrick Cullen's narration [is] suitably smart, spirited, and gentle....There is inspiration here at every turn, and one is left feeling the tragedy of America is that Franklin didn't live to be 300 - at least. Highly recommended for all collections." ( Library Journal)
"The most comprehensive and the most intelligently sympathetic biography of Franklin we have." ( New York Times)

Great story of a fascinating man for all ages.

This book made my commute and walks enjoyable when they could have been mundane. Word.

Thorough

It was long but interesting and took a lot of time. Very thorough. Will listen again. Enjoyable. Had to stop and restart. Highly recommend it.

Monotone

The voice is so boring that I can't make myself pay attention. The same boring voice for quotes, characters, setting, it's enough to make me scream. First time I have ever disliked an audiobook from Audible.

Interesting man

I learned quite a lot from this book. This man should be studied in schools for his brillance and knowledge and all he contributed to this countries history. A lot to take in but worth the listening.

Fantastic!

I simply loved this book. Yes, it is very long. But it was worth every minute of listening to be able to understand the life of this amazing founding father and how he saw the world. For anyone who wants to learn about the events and circumstances that led up to the Revolutionary War, and how the major players navigated through it, this book is a must-read! I saw a lot of reviews disliked the narrator, but I thought he was fine and did a good job. He does not do what some narrators of fiction do and make up different voices for each different person speaking. Perhaps that is what turns some people off. But this is a nonfiction book told mainly from the perspective of one individual (Franklin), so I thought the narration was completely appropriate.