For almost five hundred years, human beings have been finding ways to circle the Earth-by sail, steam, or liquid fuel; by cycling, driving, flying, going into orbit, even by using their own bodily power. The story begins with the first centuries of circumnavigation, when few survived the attempt. St[...]

This newly edited Norton Critical Edition includes an introduction explaining the history of the Autobiography. The text, written during the most eventful years of Benjamin Franklin's life (1771-1790), is accompanied by new and expanded annotations, a map, an illustration and facsimiles. "Contexts" [...]