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Colonial Intrigue and Complicated Hearts: 3-Star Review of Benjamin Franklin’s Bastard by Sally Cabot Gunning

I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Colonial Intrigue and Complicated Hearts: 3-Star Review of Benjamin Franklin’s Bastard by Sally Cabot GunningBenjamin Franklin's Bastard by Sally Cabot
Published by Harper Collins on November 21, 2023
Genres: Fiction / Biographical, Fiction / Historical / Colonial America & Revolution
Pages: 373
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: Netgalley
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three-stars

An absorbing work of literary historical fiction that brings to life a little-known chapter of the American Revolution from the author of The Widow's War.
William Franklin, the son of Benjamin and his favorite mistress, Anne, is raised by Deborah, Benjamin's wife. A steadfast loyalist, he and his father cannot reconcile their wildly disparate views, causing a rift in the bond both thought unbreakable.
Fascinating and heartbreaking, Benjamin Franklin's Bastard is a gripping tale of family, love, and war, set against one of America's most fascinating periods of history.
"This is a superb novel. Don't miss it." —William Martin, New York Times–bestselling author
"Cabot laces her assured novel with Shakespearean overtones as the characters continually misconstrue one another's motives. From Franklin's intense intellectual curiosity to Anne's stubborn insistence on leading an independent life, this memorable cast makes for spellbinding reading." — Booklist
"For all Franklin's genius, fortune, and increasing stature, he is not spared the trials of women, concerns for children, or the struggles between a father and son with political differences . . . [Cabot is] a gifted writer." — The Providence Journal
"[A] poignant tale of love, survival, loyalty, and the meaning of family." — RT Book Reviews
"An enticing read for history buffs . . . genuinely heart-wrenching." — Publishers Weekly

3-star book review: Benjamin Franklin’s Bastard by Sally Cabot Gunning offers a thoughtful, character-driven look at love, loyalty, and parental choices in colonial Philadelphia. From my initial notes: compelling figures in Franklin, Deborah, and Anne, with William as the fulcrum that keeps drawing them together.

Highlights: The era’s social pressures feel authentic, and the central question—how much can parents steer a child’s fate?—lands with resonance.

Verdict: Engaging historical drama for readers who enjoy intimate character studies over high-speed plotting. Keywords: Sally Cabot Gunning, Benjamin Franklin’s Bastard review, colonial historical fiction.

three-stars

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