Benjamin Franklin in London

There are three Benjamin Franklins, the American, the British and the French. The first and the last are famous, the second forgotten … The British Franklin, the subject of this fascinating and detailed biography, may well be the real Franklin … George Goodwin’s vividly detailed account presents Franklin as a scientific, sociable Londoner. It was Britain’s loss he could not remain one. – Dominic Green * LITERARY REVIEW *
wonderful … to be reminded of a time when America produced great men who revered science, were sceptical towards religion, eagerly studied philosophy and argued with both wit and wisdom – Gerard DeGroot * THE TIMES *
interesting, lively account of Franklin’s ‘British life’ … Goodwin presents a diverting portrait of Franklin’s place in British Enlightenment culture, but his real forte is political history. Goodwin’s detailed narrative of Franklin’s diplomatic failures offers a fascinating perspective on this descent from imperial triumph to imperial catastrophe. – Jeffrey Collins * WALL STREET JOURNAL *
The respected British historian and biographer George Goodwin provides us with a thoroughly researched and accessibly written chronicle of that important time of Franklin’s transformation from place-seeking provincial lobbyist to risk-taking revolutionary sparkplug …Mr. Goodwin’s story is the stuff of suspenseful history. * THE WASHINGTON TIMES *
[Goodwin’s] narrative moves gracefully from heated confrontations with cabinet ministers to intimate aspects of Franklin’s home life. * TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT *
A sensitive, finely textured and moving account * THE OLDIE *
Elegantly written … an enjoyable introduction to Franklin’s time in the imperial metropolis. Replete with anecdote – John Brewer * NEW YORK REVIEW OF BOOKS *
Goodwin’s enjoyable biography… – Tim Stanley * HISTORY TODAY *
Benjamin Franklin in London is out now everybody. You must get a copy, it is fantastic. – Dan Snow * HISTORY HIT PODCAST *

George Goodwin is a history graduate of Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he was awarded a Foundation exhibition. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and of the Royal Society of Arts. He lives in Kew.

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