Review: Benjamin Franklin's Bastard by Sally Cabot

Benjamin Franklin's Bastard
Author: Sally Cabot
Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Publisher: William Morrow

Description:

Benjamin Franklin's Bastard by Sally Cabot is an absorbing and compelling work of literary historical fiction that brings to life a little-known chapter of the American Revolution -- the story of Benjamin Franklin and his bastard son, and the women who loved them both.

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.  

Benjamin Franklin's Bastard is a captivating historical fiction novel that tells the story of William Franklin - the son of Benjamin Franklin and his mistress, Anne. This illegitimate son is raised by Benjamin's wife, Deborah. The novel takes place around the time of the American Revolution and tells the story of a man and his son torn apart by differing political views. William is a loyalist and his father and he can't seem to come to any sort of even ground between their political views. Since both are passionate in their causes and beliefs, this difference of opinion causes a rift in the family - especially the bond between Benjamin and his son.

I don't normally enjoy historical fiction, but I was curious about the novel after reading the description. Gladly, the book surpassed any expectations I had for it. The writing was exceptional and entirely compelling. I found myself getting sucked into the story right from the beginning. The details and descriptions of the scenes, happenings, and characters were so vivid that I could easily imagine myself alongside them throughout the novel. The plot was interesting, especially considering it dealt with the American Revolution and how life was during that time in our country. I found the hidden story of William Franklin to be exciting and definitely added a layer of intrigue to the historical events that I never imagined before. All of the characters were very well written, especially those of William, Benjamin, and Deborah. They each had their own personalities complete with flaws and strengths just like the rest of us. It made them easy to identify with very early on in the book. The writing itself was incredible and had a quick pace and a natural flow that kept me fully engaged in the story. Definitely recommended for fans of historical fiction, especially those that deal with the American Revolution and Benjamin Franklin.