A rollicking dive into Ben’s self-declared “hard-to-be-governed passion.”
In this episode, we dig into the stories behind Benjamin Franklin’s notoriously naughty reputation on a quest to determine whether he was a flirt, a feminist, or the philandering father of dozens of children. And we dive into a letter of Franklin’s that was considered too obscene to print until 150 years after his death.
Listen now:
Cover Image: A Rare Portrait of Benjamin Franklin with a Young Girl by Lilly Martin Spencer
Sources:
Benjamin Franklin and Women, Edited by Larry Tise
Dr. Benjamin Franklin and the Ladies: Being Various Letters, Essays & Bagatelles and Satires to & About the Fair Sex, Peter Pauper Press, 1939.
Benjamin Franklin: An American Life by Walter Isaacson
“In the dark all cats are grey“
I’m writing a book with Ben Franklin as the antagonist. This was really helpful. Thanks!
Author
Glad we could help! He’s such a rich character and I’m intrigued by the idea of him as antagonist.