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Sale

The Lost World of James Smithson - Science, Revolution, and the Birth of the Smithsonian

by Heather Ewing
RM43.72 MYR Now RM40.05 MYR Save 8%
The Lost World of James Smithson - Science, Revolution, and the Birth of the Smithsonian - Thryft
The Lost World of James Smithson - Science, Revolution, and the Birth of the Smithsonian - Thryft

Unveiling James Smithson, Smithsonian Institution's enigma.

If you're intrigued by stories of enigmatic figures whose legacies have monumental impacts, "The Lost World of James Smithson" is for you. Heather Ewing skillfully captures the multifaceted life of a man whose name is known globally through the Smithsonian yet whose personal story is shrouded in mystery. The book provides a fascinating look at not only his personal history but also the creation of an institution that has become a bastion for knowledge and culture.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.
Sale

The Lost World of James Smithson - Science, Revolution, and the Birth of the Smithsonian

by Heather Ewing
RM43.72 MYR Now RM40.05 MYR Save 8%
ISBN: 9781596910294
Authors: Heather Ewing
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Date of Publication: 2007-04-03
Format: Hardcover
Related Collections: History, Biographies & Memoirs, Science
Related Topics: Memoir, Biography, American History, Politics, War, Microhistory
Goodreads rating: 3.46
(rated by 120 readers)

Description

In 1836 the United States government received a strange and unprecedented gift―a half-million dollar bequest to establish a foundation in Washington "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." The Smithsonian Institution, as it would be called, eventually grew into the largest museum and research complex in the world. Yet the man behind what became "America's attic," James Smithson, has remained a shadowy figure for more than 150 years. Drawing on unpublished diaries and letters from across Europe and the United States, historian Heather Ewing tells his compelling story in full. The illegitimate son of the Duke of Northumberland, Smithson was the youngest member of Britain's Royal Society and a talented chemist admired by the greatest scientists of his age. At the same time, however, he was also a suspected spy, an inveterate gambler, and a radical revolutionary during the turbulent years of the Napoleonic Wars. But at the heart of Smithson's story is his bequest―worth $9 million in today's currency―which sparked an international lawsuit and a decade-long congressional battle, featuring a dizzying cast of historical figures, including John Quincy Adams, and Alexander Graham Bell, both of whom grappled with how―and even whether―to put Smithson's endowment to use. Fascinating and magisterial, Ewing's biography presents a
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Good Condition

We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

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Similar Reads

Unveiling James Smithson, Smithsonian Institution's enigma.

If you're intrigued by stories of enigmatic figures whose legacies have monumental impacts, "The Lost World of James Smithson" is for you. Heather Ewing skillfully captures the multifaceted life of a man whose name is known globally through the Smithsonian yet whose personal story is shrouded in mystery. The book provides a fascinating look at not only his personal history but also the creation of an institution that has become a bastion for knowledge and culture.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.