Benjamin Franklin and Women

“It is a tribute to the skills of editor Larry Tise, and to several major scholars of early American women, that the true story of Franklin and women is finally revealed in a series of essays every bit as fascinating as the tales about Franklin the sexual athlete that have circulated for two centuries. The true Franklin was not a saint, but anyone seeking to perpetuate the extravagant mythology of his prowess must now do so at the expense of the facts.”

—William Pencak,Penn State University

“Larry Tise performs an excellent service in bringing these interpretations together in one enjoyable volume.”

—Elizabeth E. Dunn New England Quarterly

“That Franklin’s personality invites both impatience and admiration from us today probably speaks in part to persistent tensions over the play of gender in society from his day to our own. These essays deftly display a variety of approaches to our understanding of early America. . . . In the end, we are given a poignant reminder of the ways in which women took their intellectual fate into their own hands, often despite the men in their lives.”

—Debra M. O’Neal Journal of the Early Republic

“Rooted in solid research and free from sensationalistic accusations about his private life, Benjamin Franklin and Women provides a balanced introduction to Franklin’s relationships and attitudes toward women. As the first look at Franklin since the maturation of women’s studies, it provides a wealth of information on both Franklin and eighteenth century women’s history, while at the same time suggesting many avenues for further research.”

—Jennifer Reed Fray Pennsylvania History

“Here we have a finely crafted book that explores both Franklin’s relationship with the women in his life and the more important questions surrounding the status of women in the 18th century.”

—Rendezvous Report