# The Story of the Autobiography explained — The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin > Chapter companion for The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin. ## What happens This introductory chapter recounts the fascinating history of how Franklin's Autobiography was written and the adventures of its original manuscript. It describes how Franklin began the work as a letter to his son in 1771, how the manuscript was lost and recovered, and how it was eventually published in various editions, including a faulty French translation. The chapter also details the manuscript's journey through the hands of Abel James, Le Veillard, John Bigelow, and finally to Henry E. Huntington, and highlights the restoration of the authentic text by Bigelow, who corrected over twelve hundred changes made by Franklin's grandson. ## Themes in this chapter ### Practical Wisdom and Common Sense The chapter highlights Franklin's 'hard common sense and practical knowledge of the art of living' as a key reason for the enduring popularity of the Autobiography. ### The Value of Networking and Reputation The manuscript's journey through the hands of friends like Abel James and Le Veillard, and the efforts to preserve and publish Franklin's work, underscore the importance of personal connections. ### Education and Self-Learning The Autobiography itself is presented as a work that teaches through Franklin's own story, and the chapter notes its constant demand at circulating libraries, reflecting its educational value. ## Character check-ins ### Benjamin Franklin Author of the Autobiography, began writing it in 1771 as a letter to his son; later continued at Passy and in Philadelphia. ### William Franklin Franklin's son, to whom the first part of the Autobiography was originally addressed as a letter. ### Abel James Old friend who recovered the lost manuscript and sent a copy to Franklin at Passy, urging him to complete the story. ### Le Veillard Friend of Franklin in Paris to whom a copy of the manuscript was sent; later disclaimed knowledge of the first French edition. ### John Bigelow United States Minister to France who purchased the original manuscript in 1867 and published the standard edition in 1868, correcting over twelve hundred textual changes. ### William Temple Franklin Franklin's grandson and literary executor who published the works in 1817 but took unwarranted liberties with the original manuscript, making over twelve hundred changes. ## Key lines > The first part, written as a letter to his son, William Franklin, was not intended for publication; and the composition is more informal and the narrative more personal than in the second part, from 1730 on, which was written with a view to publication. The initial section was a private letter to his son, making it less formal and more personal than the later part, which was written for the public. _Describes the shift in purpose and tone between the two parts of the Autobiography._ > Mr. Bigelow says he found more than twelve hundred changes in the text. Bigelow discovered that the original manuscript had been altered over 1,200 times by Temple Franklin. _Highlights the extent of unauthorized editing by Franklin's grandson._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters/the-story-of-the-autobiography - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/franklin_autobiography_se/chapters