The First AmericanThe First American

Historian H.W. Brands' acclaimed, comprehensive biography of Ben Franklin—the first in over 60 years—made the New York Times best-seller list, was a main selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club, and earned a Pulitzer Prize nomination. The New Yorker hails, "Like its subject, this biography is both solid and enchanting." Many consider Franklin the most fascinating American man who ever lived. A scientist, businessman, diplomat, author, inventor, philosopher and politician, he is America's original Renaissance man. His remarkable and varied accomplishments include the discovery of electricity and the modernization of the postal system. Brilliant and bawdy, a master statesman and a cultural icon, Franklin was so important and popular in his day that, according to the author, "... only Washington mattered as much." Drawing from a wealth of sources, including previously unpublished letters to and from Franklin, Brands creates an unforgettable tribute to a man for the ages. Nelson Runger's narration highlights the incredible events and fascinating personality traits that made Franklin a legend.