{"product_id":"the-smithson-matter-robert-manns-9780595477708","title":"The Smithson Matter","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Smithson Matter\u003c\/i\u003e, together with its one-act \u003ci\u003eIntroduction\u003c\/i\u003e, recounts the personal and political maneuvers behind the creation of the great Smithsonian Institute. The \u003ci\u003eIntroduction\u003c\/i\u003e presents James Smithson, né Macie, the illegitimate son of the Duke of Northumberland and the fashionable Elizabeth Macie. Frustrated by the English class society that stigmatizes him and inspired by the equality of the new American States, he resolves to leave his fortune to that country, to be used to create an institute \"for the dissemination of knowledge to the common man.\"\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Smithson Matter\u003c\/i\u003e itself takes place during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. While former president-now Massachusetts representative-John Quincy Adams struggles to maintain the original intent of the Smithson bequest, other congressmen lobby for a piece here and a slice there to please their own constituencies. Clearly, politics has not changed much in the past 175 years.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTold with wit and wisdom, \u003ci\u003eThe Smithson Matter\u003c\/i\u003e delves into the personalities of James Smithson and John Quincy Adams with affection and historical accuracy.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Robert Manns\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0595477704\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780595477708\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e iUniverse\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 01\/30\/2008\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 140\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.47lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.33d","brand":"Robert Manns","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48435570639103,"sku":"9780595477708","price":13.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_d668ee2b-34ee-49b9-a65e-1b2f2e63875e.jpg?v=1777151259","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-smithson-matter-robert-manns-9780595477708","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}