Silence Dogood Letters

Silence Dogood Letters by Benjamin Franklin bursts with the sharp, ironic wit of a young writer who would become one of America's most famous minds. Composed when Franklin was still a teenager and published under the playful pseudonym Silence Dogood in The New-England Courant (April–December 1722), the fourteen letters blend essay-like commentary and epistolary fiction to critique colonial manners, education, gender roles, religion, and civic life. Franklin’s voice alternates between genteel humor and pointed social observation, offering a window into early 18th-century Boston and the lively public sphere that shaped American letters. These brief essays showcase rhetorical skill, keen moral observation, and a talent for satire that helped launch Franklin’s long career in print. Far more than historical curiosities, the letters reveal how satire and persona were used to engage readers, provoke debate, and reflect on everyday life in colonial America. Ideal for fans of classic essays, lovers of early American history, students of rhetoric, or anyone who enjoys clever satire, this collection is a lively, accessible introduction to Franklin’s early work and the power of the epistolary voice.