Review of "Bolt of Fate: Benjamin Franklin and His Electric Kite Hoax" by Tom Tucker

Remember the tale of Ben Franklin flying his kite in a thunder and lightning storm and "discovering electricity?" Author Tom Tucker claims its a myth, and proceeds to try to prove it. Tucker says it was a hoax meant to embarrass the French and English rivals who were competing in the discovery fields of electricity. The world was supposed to believe that Franklin proved that lightning and electricity were the same thing. The French were so charmed by this hoax that Franklin became a major celebrity when he traveled to France during the American Revolution. He used his celebrity to convince the French to join us in the fight against the British.

No one has before attempted to prove what was only rumored before concerning this historical myth. We should note that Tucker has won awards and that he often has written about the history of invention. He has written for and about NASA during a fellowship at Stanford University.

Do you believe the story of Franklin and his kite? Read the book and you might well change your mind. Either way, its a fascinating look at one of our best known Founding Fathers.