Book excerpt: A history of the early years of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, & the life & career of James Bowdoin, the Academy's first president. The strength of the work rests in a combination of its subject matter & execution. The subject matter is both intrinsically interesting & simultaneously neglected. Neither the accomplishments of Bowdoin nor the contributions of the members of the Academy have been adequately studied, & the Manuel's careful exploration is a valuable addition to our understanding of the founding of the nation. Using primary manuscript sources, the work is, by turns, witty, learned, & often simply fascinating. An incomparable account of one of Revolutionary America's most elusive & fascinating figures.