As timeless expressions of wit and wisdom, the maxims in Poor Richard's Almanac are as popular today as they were in eighteenth century colonial America.
The author behind the pseudonym of Poor Richard, or Richard Saunders, was none other than Benjamin Franklin, the renowned American scientist, statesman and publisher. Franklin presented his Poor Richard character as a man of humble means with aspirations to better himself through hard work and temperate living and the urge to share this wisdom with his fellow citizens.
Popular periodicals in Franklin's day, almanacs aimed both to inform and entertain their readership and Poor Richard's Almanac delivered on both counts with great success. Each annual edition consisted of a short introduction followed by poems, proverbs, a calendar of meteorological and astronomical charts, practical household hints, puzzles and often a serial story that ended on a cliff-hanger to ensure the next instalment was purchased.
What made Franklin's almanac stand out was his signal use of witty wordplay and his collection of short, humorous truisms. Over the 26 years of publication - from 1732 to 1758 - his almanac became a household name in Philadelphia, with two-thirds of the population buying a copy every year.
This edition by Aziloth Books collates the maxims from each edition and includes the "The Way to Wealth", Franklin's famous distillate of Poor Richard's quotes that was published in the last issue of the almanac.
Franklin, Benjamin: - Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American statesman, philosopher, and writer, was one of a numerous family. His father was a soap-boiler at Boston, where Franklin was born. He was apprenticed at the age of 13 to his brother, a printer, who treated him harshly. After various changes, during which he lived in New York, London, and Philadelphia, he at last succeeded in founding a successful business as a printer. He also started a newspaper, The Gazette, which was highly popular, Poor Richard's Almanac, and the Busybody Papers, in imitation of the Spectator. After holding various minor appointments, he was made deputy Postmaster-General for the American Colonies. In 1757 he went to London on some public business in which he was so successful that various colonies appointed him their English agent. In the midst of his varied avocations he found time for scientific investigation, especially with regard to electricity. For these he became known over the civilised world, and was loaded with honours. In 1762 he returned to America, and took a prominent part in the controversies which led to the Revolutionary War and the independence of the Colonies. In 1776 he was U.S. Minister to France, and in 1782 was a signatory of the treaty which confirmed the independence of the States. He returned home in 1785, and, after holding various political offices, retired in 1788, and died in 1790. His autobiography is his chief contribution to literature, and is of the highest interest. [From A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature by John W. Cousin, 1910]
