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The Life of Benjamin Franklin

Samuel G. Goodrich

A 19th-century biography of Franklin written for schoolchildren, containing tales and anecdotes about his life.

This biography retells Franklin's life for schoolchildren, shaping how later generations learned about him.

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Samuel G. Goodrich, The Life of Benjamin Franklin. LibriVox volunteer audio reading of the text, public domain.

About this source

What it is

This is a biography of Benjamin Franklin written by Samuel G. Goodrich, intended for schoolchildren of the mid-1800s. It includes tales, sketches, and anecdotes about Franklin's life, along with quiz questions for readers. The audio presented here is a LibriVox volunteer reading of the text, recorded in modern times—not Franklin's own voice, nor a recording from the time the book was written.

Why it matters

This book reflects how Franklin's life was taught to children long after his death, shaping the popular image of Franklin as a model of industry and virtue for young readers. It shows how historical figures are remembered and retold for educational purposes.

Look closer

  • Why might a biography written for children simplify or dramatize a person's life?
  • How might the anecdotes in this book differ from Franklin's own letters?
  • What does the use of quiz questions tell us about how this book was meant to be used?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Benjamin Franklin on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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