Born in Bermuda to a house slave in 1788; Mary Prince suffered the first of many soul-shattering experiences in her life when she was separated from her parents and siblings at the age of twelve. Subjected to bodily and sexual abuse by subsequent masters; she was bought and sold several times before she was ultimately freed.The first black woman to break the bonds of slavery in the British colonies and publish a record of her experiences; Prince vividly recalls her life in the West Indies; her rebellion against physical and psychological degradation; and her eventual escape in 1828 in England. Her straightforward; often poetic account of immense anguish; separation from her husband; and struggle for freedom inflamed public opinion during a period when stormy debates on abolition were common in both the United States and England.This edition also includes a substantial supplement by Thomas Pringle; the original editor; as well as another brief slave account: “The Narrative of Asa-Asa; a Captured African.â€Essential reading for students of African-American studies; Mary Prince’s classic account of determination and endurance aids in filling the many gaps in black women’s history.
#6157 in Books Benjamin Franklin 1996-06-07 1996-06-07Format: PrintOriginal language:UnknownPDF # 1 8.50 x .36 x 5.50l; .26 #File Name: 0486290735144 pagesThe Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Review
693 of 705 people found the following review helpful. The Original American DreamBy T. S.It's a little presumptuous to write a "review" of a book as historically important as this; so I'll just give a few reasons why you should read it.It's well-written and engaging; even 200+ (nearing 300+; Franklin was born in 1706) years later. It stops in 1760; well before his involvement with the Revolution; but it covers in detail his youth; apprenticeships; the formation of his philosophy and ideals; and his path from poor roots to business and social success -- the first telling of the American Dream; the idea that a poor young man could Find His Fortune in the New World through enterprise; wisdom; and work.There is a high degree of self-hagiography here; and it would be amusing to tally up (for example) how many times Franklin praises himself vs. how many times he advises on the virtue of humility. He smooths over controversial topics like his illegitimate son; he doesn't mention his membership in the Freemasons; etc. The construction is also a bit rambling ("Then I did this thing. Next; I did another thing. Then I did a third thing"); but Franklin simply did so many interesting things -- even in this short slice of his life -- that the book is interesting despite that. There's a great deal of discussion on his scientific and inventive accomplishments; and he talks at length about his development of his own personal moral code and how he achieved business success (along with Franklin's Personal Method You Can Use for Self-Improvement -- in some ways; this is the first self-help book!)All in all; this is very much worth reading; and gives a compelling picture of Franklin's life and times. I particularly liked the picture Franklin draws of contemporary American society -- free; open; and small; with most people in most towns all knowing each other; and business opportunities are wide open for anyone with industry and pluck. I'm not sure how similar modern-day America still is to Franklin's Philadelphia; but it's certain that Franklin -- and this book -- helped set the image that we still *want* to believe America conforms to. And for that alone; it's worth reading.If you like this book; you might also be interested in reading Alexis de Tocqueville's _Democracy in America_; for another view of colonial-era America; or any of Mark Twain's nonfiction (_Life on the Mississippi_; _Roughing It_; etc.); for similar accounts of America's growth and development a hundred-odd years further on. Any of those should be available as a free Kindle download.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. In many ways Franklin is the quintessential AmericanBy Gene Rhea TuckerThis version of Franklin's autobiography (The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin; Volume One: 1706-1757; ISBN 9781596980303) is edited by Mark Skousen. His main work was to "compleat" the autobiography; which Regnery publishing has made a volume two to this volume (The Compleated Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin; Volume Two: 1757-1790) by piecing together Franklin's other pieces into a similar autobiographical form. Skousen doesn't do much annotating here. Just a few footnotes explaining old terms (what's an "eleve"?) and adding a few details to Franklin's text (like; editing a date or name here and there). There is a short and interesting introduction to the project; a "cast of characters;" a chronology; and an index. Unlike the Skousen-edited Compleated Autobiography; there are no images. Read in tandem; these two volumes provide the classic Autobiography and the "compleation" in the same mode; even the same font and styling; which makes for a unified experience. It is well worth buying both if you can.As to the classic text of Franklin's Autobiography; what more can be said that already hasn't for a century. A story of pluck and determination. A story of hard work and humility. A story of virtue versus vice. A story of humor and wit. A story that encourages all the morals and values that made America great. You can see definitely why American children were made to read this all through the 1800s and early 1900s. It is a sort of shame that that is not the case now. Franklin's pragmatism; ecumenicism; public-mindedness; entrepreneurship; and joie de vivre is a story that should be told and emulated by all no matter their gender; age; creed; race; or color; i.e.; by every American. In many ways Franklin is the quintessential American.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Arguably the best autobiography ever written.By JDBeing a huge history buff and a lover of autobiographies; this is amongst my favorites. Franklin's writings are food for the soul. Such a.man of integrity of humble beginnings; there seemed to be nothing this man couldn't accomplish. So.many things attributed to him; everyone knows the kite and lightning experiments; but he also started the first fire Dept; was a postmaster general; a printer; writer; ambassador; the list goes on and on. If you read no other autobiography; read.this one; you will be better for it. The writing of the time is sometimes hard to follow; but still worth reading one of the most intelligent statesman and forefather of our country. Poor Richards Almanac is another great read. Published under the psuedonynm of Richard.Saunders; these are.great nuggets of truth; interspersed with some comedy. Well worth the time.
