Abstract

"The Father of All the Yankees"

This article presents information on the book "Benjamin Franklin Self-Revealed: A Biographical and Critical Study Based Mainly on His Own Writings," by William Cabell Bruce. The thousand-dollar prize for "the best biography of the year," teaching patriotic and unselfish service to the people, which Columbia University, under the provisions of the Joseph Pulitzer Foundation, has awarded to William Cabell Bruce's book, will doubtless heighten the very considerable applause which the book had already won. The book presents the life and character of Franklin under a dozen heads: Franklin's Moral Standing and System, Franklin's Religious Beliefs, Franklin the Philanthropist and Citizen, Franklin's Family Relations, Franklin's American Friends, Franklin's British Friends, Franklin as a Man of Science, and Franklin as a Writer. Naturally, the chapters differ greatly in bulk and somewhat in value.