the autobiography of benjamin franklin sparknotes

He makes more friends and spends much of his time swimming (he even thinks of opening a swimming school), but after 18 months in London, Mr. He begins renting a room from an elderly woman who tells him lots of stories. He makes more money and moves out of his old lodgings. Franklin, however, thinks that she is flirting with him, and so when he propositions her, she runs back and tells Ralph about it, forcing Ralph and Franklin to break off their friendship.įranklin eventually gets promoted out of presswork and into composing articles. Ralph's girlfriend begins to worry about Ralph, and she goes to Franklin for advice. Ralph becomes a school teacher and begins writing epic poetry, most of which is very bad, and mailing it to Franklin to read. Meanwhile, Ralph decides to move out of London into the countryside with his new girlfriend. The pamphlet is read by a well known surgeon in London, who makes a point of befriending Franklin and introducing him to a number of famous London figures. Franklin prints a pamphlet called A Dissertation on Liberty and Necessity, Pleasure and Pain.

Franklin, meanwhile, befriends a man named Wilcox, and together they work out a deal for a small lending library, and idea which will come to greater fruition back in Philadelphia. Ralph slowly forgets his wife and children and Franklin forgets Miss Read as they live life to the fullest, always having fun and always going broke. Denham advises Franklin to get a job at Palmer's, a famous printing house, where Franklin works for the next year while living with Ralph. Franklin quickly learns, however, that despite what Keith promised, he did not actually write Franklin a letter of recommendation to be shown to all the printers and stationery sellers in London with whom Franklin was hoping to make connections. They arrive in London in December 24, 1724. Denham with whom he will stay friends in England. On route to England with Ralph, Franklin meets a Quaker called Mr.

The autobiography of benjamin franklin sparknotes