The next book selection is The Loyal Son: The War in Ben Franklin’s House (2017) by Daniel Mark Epstein.

The Loyal Son recounts the painful rupture between Benjamin Franklin and his illegitimate son, William, during the American Revolution. Once inseparable—partners in science, diplomacy, and ambition—the two men found themselves on opposite sides of the conflict: Ben as a leading voice for independence, William as the royal governor of New Jersey and a committed Loyalist. Their political divide led to William’s imprisonment for treason and a permanent break that neither fully repaired. Drawing on overlooked documents, the book reveals how the Revolution’s turmoil shattered even one of America’s most prominent families, offering a vivid look at the personal costs of the fight for independence.

Participants are responsible for obtaining their own copy of the book.