Francesca Wade & Lara Pawson: On Gertrude Stein

In *Making Americans*, Jessica Lander weaves together historical struggles, new ideas, and inspiring stories to create a vision for educating immigrant students in the U.S. The book highlights barriers faced by immigrant students and shares stories of those who have overcome them, offering insights for educators and policymakers.

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is a seminal work that spans several decades of Franklin's life, from his childhood in Boston to his later years as a respected statesman and scientist. The autobiography is divided into four parts, each written during different periods of his life. It covers his apprenticeship to his brother James, his early career as a printer and publisher, his experiments with electricity, and his civic and political involvements. The work is notable for its insights into Franklin's personal life, his pursuit of moral perfection, and his contributions to American history and culture.

Francesca Wade's "Gertrude Stein: An Afterlife" is a bold and innovative biography that goes beyond traditional literary biography to examine the nature of legacy and memory. Drawing on never-before-seen interviews and archival material, Wade uncovers the origins of Stein's radical writing and reveals new depths to her relationship with Alice B. Toklas. The book is structured in two parts: a chronological account of Stein's life and an exploration of how her legacy evolved after her death in 1946, including Toklas's role in managing Stein's posthumous reputation. Wade's work combines rigorous research with engaging narrative, shedding light on Stein's complex personality, her avant-garde literary contributions, and the myths surrounding her life and afterlife.