Book of Ages by Jill Lepore
Benjamin Franklin was well known during his lifetime and is still remembered today. Not so his sister Jane.
But in her own way, Jane led a life that was even more admirable than her brother's. Married too young to what turned out to be a bad choice of a husband, she spent most of her child-bearing years pregnant--only to see most of her children (and several grandchildren) die too young. One son who survived was insane, and his care was a constant worry for his mother.
Struggling to keep a roof over the heads of her ever-expanding brood (with no help from her ne'er-do-well husband), Jane nonetheless maintained a keen interest in politics and the affairs of the day. And she lived for letters from her famous brother, Ben.(Ben, by the way, comes off as kind of pompous and self-absorbed for most of the book. He doesn't provide a steady source of income to help her out until pretty late in her life, rarely comes to visit and often doesn't write for months at a time.)
This book tells a fascinating story but it is a slow read. It's kind of like reading someone's dissertation on Colonial America. Still, Jane Franklin is someone you'll want to meet.
But in her own way, Jane led a life that was even more admirable than her brother's. Married too young to what turned out to be a bad choice of a husband, she spent most of her child-bearing years pregnant--only to see most of her children (and several grandchildren) die too young. One son who survived was insane, and his care was a constant worry for his mother.
Struggling to keep a roof over the heads of her ever-expanding brood (with no help from her ne'er-do-well husband), Jane nonetheless maintained a keen interest in politics and the affairs of the day. And she lived for letters from her famous brother, Ben.(Ben, by the way, comes off as kind of pompous and self-absorbed for most of the book. He doesn't provide a steady source of income to help her out until pretty late in her life, rarely comes to visit and often doesn't write for months at a time.)
This book tells a fascinating story but it is a slow read. It's kind of like reading someone's dissertation on Colonial America. Still, Jane Franklin is someone you'll want to meet.
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