Atlantic Cousins: Benjamin Franklin and His Visionary Friends

by Jack Fruchtman Jr.

Ben Franklin was at the heart of the Enlightenment. He drew to him some of the greatest minds of that time, people who remain among the most intriguing in history—Americans, Englishmen, and Frenchmen whose ideas continue to shape how we live to this day. Through engaging anecdotes and short histories, Atlantic Cousins includes intimate portraits of Franklin and Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, John Adams, Voltaire, the Marquis de Condorcet, Georges-Jacques Danton, Camille Desmoulins—and their arch-enemy, William Cobbett, an unrelenting monarchist and anglophile. Plenty of illustrations and maps complement the material.

Aside from the colorful personalities, author Jack Fruchtman documents developments from Thomas Paine's smokeless candles to the founding of the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Virginia; the debate that led to the Declaration of Independence; the abolitionist movement both in America and abroad; and Paine's Rights of Man. Atlantic Cousins shows just how Ben Franklin and his circle of friends shaped this unique and remarkable period in history.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, American Revolution

404 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was quite the easy read, 'this' being a series of brief biographies of Enlightenment figures whose lives intersected, more or less, with that of Benjamin Franklin. Those treated include Geo Whitefield, Anthony Benezet, Granville Sharp, Benjamin Rush, Th Paine, Joseph Priestly, Richard Price, Jean-Paul Marat, Franz-Anton Mesmer, Antoine-Nicolas de Condorcet, Jacques-Pierre Brissot and Franklin himself. At best, it gives a sense of the optimism of the time...

[Lauren Albert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this dull although some of that might have been due to my familiarity with the people portrayed (I did my degree in 18th century American literature which necessitated a familiarity with 18th century thought elsewhere as well). I felt it didn't cohere totally as a text both because of the narrative's jumping from protagonist to protagonist and because I really didn't see why Fruchtman needed the putative connection with Franklin. Franklin didn't seem that "present" for someone whose name is in the title of the book. I think the author would have been better off simply writing about 18th century revolutionary thought.

[Sarah W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is less about Benjamin Franklin and more about the thinkers and themes which surrounded the remarkable American. I appreciated the inclusion of figures such as Marat, who I didn't really associate with Franklin, but the two definitely corresponded and knew each other. Additionally, this book makes for interesting reading about the themes of the 18th century - scientific as well as political - and detailing how different figures thought about the issues of their day and the solutions they proposed. Overall, fascinating reading centered around one of the most prominent figures in the American Revolution.

[Marty Mangold · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've only read the Prologue and the chapter on Thomas Paine, but find this author friendly and knowledgeable. I found it hard to follow his chronology sometimes, but it was useful to my immediate questions.

[Tony · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually closer to three and half stars. Well written I just was looking for more ties to Franklin

[Doris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wished I had read some of the other reviews before starting this book.
It felt like I was reading someone's dissertation and it was so dry and boring that I found it to be a very effective sleep aide when I couldn't fall asleep. Just start reading it and I found myself nodding off and getting a good night's sleep.
I did enjoy being reminded of some of the other people who were striving to make changes in society during this time period. The chapter on Thomas Paine was interesting as well as the summary at the end of the book.
Most of the "visionaries" in this book opposed slavery and tried to help by promoting education for people of color. They encouraged freedom from slavery and teaching of trades so that everyone could have a business, own a home and feel good about their place in life.
These men also believed that education was also important for women. Women should be considered equals and needed the education to help run their homes, especially if the men were off fighting a war.
Considering the time period, late 1700's when these men lived and wrote they were definitely ahead of their time. They encouraged others, tried to help formulate the best governing bodies they could and generally wanted to help all people have what they felt was a better life.

[Patricia Guy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very slow and draggy book. I found out more about the medical practices during the time period then I ever wanted to know, and it wasn't the reason I got the book. In the early part of the book he said about Edward Jenner 'when he(Jenner)vaccinated an eight-year-old boy, he found that the vaccine created antibodies'. I would like to how Jenner in the 18th century physician did this, since wasn't until the late 19th century that term antibody was even used much less found. This is not an author I will be looking for more by.

[kwesi 章英狮 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Challenges:
Book #187 for 2011
Book #105 for Off the Shelf!

[Murray · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit slow, but good information about the American and French revolutions.

[Dan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring!

[Al · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting review of the many friends of Benjamin Franklin in this country as well as England and France during the course of his long life.