Jonathan Edwards. There have been at least twenty-two editions and printings of Edwards’s collected work. The most accessible is that in four volumes which appeared originally in 1843 and has been reprinted nine times, the last in 1881. In these volumes the most important pages are in Vol. I, pp. 1–27 (biographical), and in Vol. IV (sermons).

Biography and Criticism

Dwight, Timothy. Travels in New England and New York (1822), Vol. IV, pp. 323 ff.

Holmes, O. W. Pages from an Old Volume of Life. 1891.

James, William. The Varieties of Religious Experience. 1902.

Macphail, Andrew. Essays in Puritanism. 1905.

Sanborn, F. B. Journal of Speculative Philosophy, Vol. XVII, No. 4. October, 1883.

Stephen, Leslie. Littell’s Living Age, Vol. V (ser. 5), No. 1546. Jan. 24, 1874.

Walker, Williston. Ten New England Leaders. 1901.

Ward, W. H. The Independent, Vol. LV, No. 2861. Oct. 1, 1903.

Woodbridge, F. J. E. Philosoph. Rev., Vol. XIII, No. 4. July, 1904. The Congregationalist and Christian World, Edwards number, Vol. LXXXVIII, No. 40. Oct. 3, 1903.

Benjamin Franklin. There are eleven editions of Franklin’s collected works in English, French, and German, dating from 1773 to 1905. The best of these is the one compiled and edited by John Bigelow. 1889. 10 vols. Poor Richard Improved, 1757. This was later issued as Father Abraham’s Speech, over 150 editions and reprints of which are recorded. Autobiography. First issued in Paris, 1791. Best recent editions: John Bigelow, editor, 1874; H. E. Scudder, editor, Riverside Literature Series, 1886; William MacDonald, editor, Temple Autobiography Series, 1905; William MacDonald, editor, Everyman’s Library, 1908.

History and Biography

Bruce, W. C. Benjamin Franklin Self-Revealed: A Biographical and Critical Study based mainly on his own Writings. 1918. 2 vols.

Ford, P. L. The Many-Sided Franklin. 1899.

Hale, E. E. and E. E., Jr. Franklin in France; from original documents most of which are now published for the first time. 1887–1888. 2 vols.

McMaster, J. B. Benjamin Franklin (A.M.L. Series). 1887.

McMaster, J. B. Franklin in France. Atlantic Monthly, Vol. LX. September, 1887.

Sherman, Stuart P. Cambridge History of American Literature, Vol. I, chap. vi.

Swift, Lindsay. Catalogue of works relating to Benjamin Franklin in the Boston Public Library. 1883.

Colonial Almanacs

Kittredge, G. L. The Old Farmer and his Almanack. 1904.

Colonial Journalism

Cook, E. C. Cambridge History of American Literature, Vol. I, chap. vii.

Hudson, F. Journalism in the United States, 1690–1872. 1873.

Thomas, I. History of Printing in America. 1871.

Literary Treatment of the Period

Fiction

Cooper, J. F. Satanstoe.

Cooper, J. F. The Chainbearer.

Cooper, J. F. The Deerslayer.

Cooper, J. F. The Redskins.

Thackeray, W. M. The Virginians.

Poetry

Poems of American History (edited by B. E. Stevenson), pp. 99–125

TOPICS AND PROBLEMS

Few modern readers can regard the sermons of Jonathan Edwards as anything but documents of historical interest. It is quite worth study to read at first-hand one or two sermons about which so many careless generalizations have been made. The chief points of interest are the theology as it stands in his own living words, and his rhetorical method, which is an admirable exercise of forensic discourse.

Read Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “The Minister’s Wooing” and “Oldtown Folks” (especially chap. ) for a faithful portrait of one of Edwards’s chief successors (see pp. 305–308).

Read Franklin’s “Autobiography” for its revelation of personal characteristics: his continued emphasis on usefulness; his refusal to allow his emotions to carry him away (whether anger, love, religious fervor, or desire for revenge); his willingness to act unscrupulously for what he felt was a good end; his self-analysis (in other places than the passage on the virtues); his public spirit.

Read Franklin’s “Autobiography” for its literary characteristics: his emulation of Addison’s style (compare passages of this and the Spectator); his respect for Pope and his likeness in use of apothegms; his similarity to Chesterfield in point of view and use of homely detail. Contrast Franklin’s style with Irving’s or Cooper’s.