A GREAT IMPROVISATION Franklin, France, and the Birth of America

Benjamin Franklin has been written about, quoted, and misquoted as much as any figure in America history. But his most significant contribution, as ambassador to France during the American Revolution, is largely overlooked. Stacy Schiff focuses on just this period in this readable biography. She shows how Franklin’s personality—charming, disarming, honest, and devious—exactly suited his mission. Without his efforts, it is possible France wouldn’t have entered the war, becoming the force that brought England to surrender. Jason Culp is solid as narrator. His diction is clear, and he varies his pacing, which keeps the reading from becoming monotonous. He adds a touch of accent to French and English figures, which gives the reading a bit of flavor without becoming cartoonish. R.C.G. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 05]