Literature and journalism have been intimate companions in American letters for three centuries. This collection of essays, the first of its kind, will explore the variety of ways that the two fields have intersected in the lives and works of American writers. Here, leading scholars examine poetry in Civil War-era newspapers, truth and falsehood in the age of yellow journalism, and the value of newspapers as a source for literary scholarship, as well as the specific experiences and contributions of Benjamin Franklin, Walt Whitman, Ernest Hemingway, Stephen Colbert, and other American authors and journalists.
Known for his influential role in the debates that established the founding documents of the United States, Benjamin Franklin was not only an astute politician, but also an Atlantic citizen whose commitment to the American cause was informed by years spent in England and France. The life of this iconic founder provides an ideal opportunity for students to take a closer look at eighteenth century colonial society and the contested formation of the early American nation.
Aretha Franklin began life as the golden daughter of a progressive and promiscuous Baptist preacher. Raised without her mother, she was a gospel prodigy who gave birth to two sons in her teens and left them and her native Detroit for New York, where she struggled to find her true voice. It was not until 1967, when a white Jewish producer insisted she return to her gospel-soul roots, that fame and fortune finally came via "Respect" and a rapidfire string of hits. She has evolved ever since, amidst personal tragedy, surprise Grammy performances, and career reinventions.
When Louis XVI presented Benjamin Franklin with a snuff box encrusted with diamonds and inset with the King’s portrait, the gift troubled Americans: it threatened to “corrupt” Franklin by clouding his judgment or altering his attitude toward the French in subtle psychological ways. This broad understanding of political corruption—rooted in ideals of civic virtue—was a driving force at the Constitutional Convention.
Among the many great Americans, Benjamin Franklin stands out as one of the first and greatest. Born in an era of fear, fear of God, fear of witches, of the Indian-infested forests, his life is a story of courage. He added to the glory and reputation of America not only by establishing some of her great institutions but by making her understood and respected in other lands. Benjamin Franklin is America for he is the perfect example of what can be done in this land of opportunity by ANYONE who has the desire and determination to succeed.
