Reviews from Readers
“ ‘Dear Ben’ is brilliantly well-written, really colorful and evocative. I can picture it being a huge success as a TV series, providing a sumptuous period piece on a really interesting topic. The characters were all very human, and many of them endearing, which made it a real page-turner, for I found I cared what happened to them all.”
—Sophie Cox, former reader for Oxford University Press.
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“ ‘Dear Ben’ is just delightful. Such a great window on to the man.”
—See-Saw Films, London.
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“ ‘Dear Ben’ is a mesmerizing blend of historical insight, adventure, and imagination that breathes new life into one of American's Founding Fathers. Koski takes readers on an intriguing journey, revealing the human behind the legend—his struggles, passions, and lesser-known exploits. It's not just a historical novel, it's a story about ambition and the price of greatness.
—Arturo Cureno
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“I have read many works about Benjamin Franklin, but "Dear Ben" shows how funny and human he was; I already knew about his intelligence. The treatment of numerous forefathers is done with great respect throughout.”
—Joseph A. Santiago
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“ ‘Dear Ben’ is so interesting and enjoyable. This is a great work… It was a pleasure to read.
—Fran Hampton, Wichita Friends’ Book Club
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“ Michael Koski’s fictional adaptation of the life of Benjamin Franklin brings a new perspective to this storied American statesman. Koski’s descriptions are not only poignant and insightful, but often amusing. I so enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
—Mary Kachoyeanos, author of “Zoe”
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“ I was fascinated to learn about Franklin’s relationships with his family, including his common-law wife, Deborah, and his son, William, about whom little has been written. “Dear Ben” confirms Franklin’s reputation as a ladies’ man!
—Dr. Sue Laudert
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“Dear Ben" is a compelling story that kept me reading, wanting to know more about Franklin. The story was framed, uniquely, as a deathbed confession of the more shameful parts of his life to his black manservant. This adds a new dimension to stories about Franklin, the patriot and scientist, as the book depicts the more human side of him. Koski's descriptions are so vivid, I felt I was in the settings. The characters were so believable, I cared about each of them.
—Susan Herring
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"Dear Ben" is such an interesting book! I truly enjoyed how detailed the writing is; it really 'set the scene' for each chapter. I am definitely recommending "Dear Ben" to my book club and to other friends.
—Dorothy Cranston
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“Dear Ben: The Secret Life of Benjamin Franklin” is a work of fiction.
Although based on historical records, liberties have been taken with names, dates, and places for the sake of storytelling. Where little is known of certain figures, i.e. Margaret Stevenson, the author has filled in the record from his imagination. Several characters are pure invention.
