Ben Franklin Did This Too?

The comprehensive book of Benjamin Franklin’s writings, among many works about him, is “Franklin: Writings,” published by The Library of America (1987) in a signature high quality hardback. It is scholarly, being one of more than 300 like volumes among The Library of America’s self-described “definitive collection of America’s greatest writers.” In it are moral and political essays of Franklin’s, articles, bagatelles, letters, speeches, “Poor Richard’s Almanack” (1733-1758), and his “Autobiography” (written from 1771 to nearly his life’s end). “Franklin: Writings” was assembled by J.A. Leo Lemay (1935-2008), Professor of English at Delaware University and author/editor elsewhere about Franklin. A career editing task this book itself might be, as it runs to 1605 pages. It is not typic…