Life as 1st draft

In his Autobiography (1771) Benjamin Franklin indulges in a pretty little bibliographic conceit. Referring to the happiness of his life up to that point he writes: “That Felicity, when I reflected on it, has induc’d me sometimes to say, that were it offer’d to my Choice, I should have no Objection to a Repetition of the same Life from its Beginning, only asking the Advantage Authors have in a second Edition to correct some Faults of the first. So I would if I might, besides correcting the Faults, change some sinister Accidents and Events of it for others more favourable, but tho’ this were deny’d, I should still accept the Offer. However, since such a Repetition is not to be expected, the next Thing most like living one’s Life over again, seems to be a Recollection of that Life; and to make that Recollection as durable as possible, the putting it down in Writing.” I expect we need be in no doubt about the experienced diplomat’s awareness, in writing his autobiography, of the potential…