A Great Improvisation

In "A Great Improvisation," Pulitzer Prize winner Stacy Schiff chronicles Benjamin Franklin's pivotal eight-year mission in France during the American Revolution. At 70 and with limited diplomatic experience, Franklin navigates a treacherous political landscape to garner support for the struggling colonies, all while being pursued by British intelligence. Schiff's vivid narrative, drawn from new and little-known primary sources, reveals both the challenges and triumphs of Franklin's endeavor, highlighting the fragile and improvisational nature of America's bid for independence on the world stage.