Benjamin Franklin and His Enemies

Robert Middlekauff examines Benjamin Franklin's conflicts and rivalries throughout his long public life, focusing on key relationships that turned antagonistic. The book tracks Franklin's personal and political battles from his early years in Pennsylvania through his time as a diplomat in England and France. The narrative centers on Franklin's interactions with specific adversaries, including his own son William, British political figures, and rival American patriots. Each relationship is analyzed through correspondence, public documents, and Franklin's own writings to reveal the nature and progression of these conflicts. The central figures include the Penn family, various royal governors of Pennsylvania, British ministers during the Revolutionary period, and Arthur Lee - a fellow American diplomat who became one of Franklin's most persistent critics. The author draws extensively from primary sources to reconstruct these complex dynamics. This study reveals how personal relationships and political ideologies intersected during the Revolutionary era, while demonstrating Franklin's evolving views on loyalty, authority, and governance. The work contributes to understanding how interpersonal conflicts shaped larger historical events.

Readers note this book focuses on Franklin's personal conflicts rather than his achievements, providing insight into his relationships with his son William, wife Deborah, and various political rivals. Many appreciate how it reveals Franklin's flaws and human side rather than presenting a sanitized portrayal. Likes: - Detailed research and primary sources - Fresh perspective on Franklin's personality - Clear writing style - Coverage of lesser-known personal relationships Dislikes: - Limited scope compared to full biographies - Some sections move slowly due to granular details - Readers wanted more analysis of certain conflicts - Too academic for casual readers seeking a broader overview Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (43 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (12 ratings) Multiple reviewers mention the book works better as a supplement to a complete Franklin biography rather than an introduction. One Goodreads reviewer noted: "Shows Franklin as brilliant but also petty and vindictive at times - a welcome change from the usual heroic treatments."

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🗸 Although Franklin is known as one of America's most beloved founding fathers, this book focuses specifically on his conflicts and rivalries, including bitter feuds with his own son William and former friend John Adams. 🗸 Robert Middlekauff spent over 40 years teaching at UC Berkeley and won the Bancroft Prize for his book "The Glorious Cause: The American Revolution, 1763-1789." 🗸 The book reveals that Franklin's scientific achievements often made him enemies among religious leaders who viewed his experiments, particularly his lightning rod invention, as an attempt to thwart God's will. 🗸 During his time as a colonial agent in London, Franklin collected and maintained detailed dossiers on his political opponents, demonstrating his skillful approach to managing adversaries. 🗸 Despite focusing on Franklin's conflicts, the book also shows how he maintained his famous wit throughout these struggles, often using humor and satire in his written responses to critics.