From Boyhood to Manhood: Life of Benjamin Franklin

audiobook

From Boyhood to Manhood: Life of Benjamin Franklin

by William Makepeace Thayer

EN·~11 hours·50 chapters

Chapters

50 total
1

FROM BOYHOOD TO MANHOOD - LIFE OF BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

0:20
2

PREFACE

2:29
3

BOYHOOD TO MANHOOD. - I. - FROM OLD ENGLAND TO NEW ENGLAND.

15:09
4

II. THE FIFTEENTH GIFT.

15:29
5

III. PAYING TOO DEAR FOR THE WHISTLE.

14:43
6

IV. IN SCHOOL.

8:40
7

JOSIAH FRANKLIN AND ABIAH, HIS WIFE, LIE HERE INTERRED. - THEY LIVED LOVINGLY TOGETHER, IN WEDLOCK, FIFTY-FIVE YEARS, AND WITHOUT AN ESTATE, OR ANY GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT, BY CONSTANT LABOR AND HONEST INDUSTRY (WITH GOD'S BLESSING), MAINTAINED A LARGE FAMILY COMFORTABLY; AND BROUGHT UP THIRTEEN CHILDREN AND SEVEN GRANDCHILDREN REPUTABLY. - FROM THIS INSTANCE, READER, BE ENCOURAGED TO DILIGENCE IN THY CALLING, AND DISTRUST NOT PROVIDENCE. HE WAS A PIOUS AND PRUDENT MAN, SHE A DISCREET AND VIRTUOUS WOMAN. THEIR YOUNGEST SON, IN FILIAL REGARD TO THEIR MEMORY, PLACES THIS STONE. - J.F., BORN 1655, DIED 1744, AET. 89. A.F., BORN 1667, DIED 1752, AET. 85."

6:00
8

V. OUT OF SCHOOL.

15:07
9

VI. FROM SCHOOL TO CANDLE-SHOP.

17:35
10

VII. CHOOSING A TRADE AND STEALING SPORT.

21:23

Description

This lively biography opens with Benjamin Franklin’s modest beginnings in a small English village, where his father, a skilled dyer, wrestles with the decision to leave an oppressive homeland for the promise of a new world. Through vivid dialogue and family anecdotes, the narrative captures the restless curiosity and practical ingenuity that marked young Ben’s early years, from his first experiments with a candle‑shop to the modest printing press he set up in a schoolroom. The author draws heavily on Franklin’s own autobiography, letting the apprentice’s voice guide readers through the challenges of poverty, relocation, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge.

As the story moves forward, it shows how Franklin’s habit of turning everyday obstacles into experiments forged a character defined by perseverance and wit. His early ventures—small businesses, self‑education, and community involvement—lay the groundwork for the larger ambitions that would later shape a nation. Listeners will find an inspiring portrait of a man whose relentless drive turned humble origins into a lasting legacy.

Details

Language

en

Duration

~11 hours (664K characters)

Publisher of text edition

Project Gutenberg

Release date

2006-01-01

Rights

Public domain in the USA.

About the author

WM

William Makepeace Thayer

1820–1898

A 19th-century minister turned popular writer, he brought American history and moral storytelling together for young readers. His lively books on figures like Abraham Lincoln and George Washington helped shape how generations first met the nation's heroes.

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