A Little Revenge: Benjamin Franklin and His Son

by Willard Sterne Randall

Book Overview

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316733644
• ISBN13: 9780316733649
• Release Date: January 1984
• Publisher: Little Brown and Company
• Length: 558 Pages
• Weight: 2.15 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A masterful and overlooked book...

Being anxious to read more about Ben Franklin after finishing Walter Isaacson's new biography, I picked up A Little Revenge by Willard Sterne Randall. I was floored by this fabulous account of the complex relationship between Benjamin Franklin and his illegitimate son, William. Ben was one of the true geniuses of the 18th century. He was statesman, lobbyist, peacemaker, writer, printer, inventor, scientist and above all, a staunch patriot. Unfortunately, all great men have their flaws and Franklin's was in his treatment of his wife and family. William was born before Ben married, and common-in-law wife Deborah raised William as her own. Randall details how father and son came to be so totally different in almost all aspects of life. Ben lived a more simple life, while William liked the trappings of high society. They had different tastes, different upbringings, different education, different religious beliefs and most importantly, differing political views. Ben believed in the sanctity of the middle class. William believed in high society, and his classical English education in the law led him to the position of Royal Governor of New Jersey. It was this fact that proved to be the wedge that drove father and son apart irrevocably. In many respects, Benjamin was an odd father. While William was still a schoolboy, Benjamin took him to tour England and Scotland. Ben kept a ledger of every penny he spent on William for clothes, food and lodging, and considered these expenses a loan. When William went back to New Jersey to assume his position of Royal Governor, years went by without any communication from Ben. Ben often treated his surrogate English family with more care and concern than his wife and children. Ben also seemed to be unexcited and perhaps even jealous of William's accomplishments. Father disapproved of William's girlfriends, didn't want him to get married, and left England in a rush to avoid his wedding and the ceremony appointing William governor. When William had an illegitimate son of his own, Ben and William fought over the child's upbringing, custody, education and even his affections (Benjamin usually won). Benjamin liked to maintain some control over William-even as an adult, and usually did it by controlling the purse strings. William liked to live beyond his means and was constantly borrowing money from his father. Father and son found themselves on opposite sides of the war for independence. After the war, Benjamin forgave his many English friends and resumed his relationships with them. He never forgave his son. This book is especially strong in giving details about the French and Indian War, and the period before and during the Revolution. In fact, I found this book much more informative than Isaacson's critically acclaimed Ben Franklin biography in these areas. What made this book even more fascinating for me (and thrilling to read) is that many of the major scenes take place in Burlington, NJ-th

Eye-opening and thought provoking

I enjoyed this book tremendously. It destroyed a lot of previously held ideas and images I had of Benjamin Franklin, and often made me feel as if I were right there, at that time, observing all of the political infighting that went on between our forefathers.

The best dual-bio ever written

Mr. Randall paints a vivid picture about the cost of success in colonial times, dipicting the struggle of a young William to step out of his esteemed father's shadow. Mr. Randall gives the reader a peek into a era of american history that not only tore apart a future nation but many families as well, and allows them to see both points of view of the loyalist vs patriot battle. This book is a MUST!!!! for all history buffs, my only regret is not getting a hardcover, because this book should be the anchor for everyones collection