{"product_id":"empire-of-mud-the-secret-history-of-washington-dc-paperback","title":"Empire of Mud: The Secret History of Washington, DC - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eJ. D. Dickey\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWashington, DC, gleams with stately columns and neoclassical temples, a pulsing hub of political power and prowess. But for decades it was one of the worst excuses for a capital city the world had ever seen. Before America became a world power in the twentieth century, Washington City was an eyesore at best and a disgrace at worst. Unfilled swamps, filthy canals, and rutted horse trails littered its landscape. Political bosses hired hooligans and thugs to conduct the nation's affairs. Legendary madams entertained clients from all stations of society and politicians of every party. The police served and protected with the aid of bribes and protection money. Beneath pestilential air, the city's muddy roads led to a stumpy, half-finished obelisk to Washington here, a domeless Capitol Building there. Lining the streets stood boarding houses, tanneries, and slums. Deadly horse races gouged dusty streets, and opposing factions of volunteer firefighters battled one another like violent gangs rather than life-saving heroes. The city's turbulent history set a precedent for the dishonesty, corruption, and mismanagement that have led generations to look suspiciously on the various sin--both real and imagined--of Washington politicians. Empire of Mud unearths and untangles the roots of our capital's story and explores how the city was tainted from the outset, nearly stifled from becoming the proud citadel of the republic that George Washington and Pierre L'Enfant envisioned more than two centuries ago.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eJ. D. Dickey\u003c\/b\u003e is the author of numerous Eyewitness and Rough Guide travel guides, including \u003ci\u003eWashington\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e, D.C.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003e, Directions \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eThe Rough Guide to Washington, D.C.\u003c\/i\u003e, as well as a contributor to \u003ci\u003eThe Rough Guide to the Lost Symbol\u003c\/i\u003e by Dan Brown. He has written for the\u003ci\u003e Independent \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eDaily Telegraph\u003c\/i\u003e and created content for online sites such as Feed, Budget Travel, and \u003ci\u003eVoid\u003c\/i\u003e magazine. He lives in Portland, Oregon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 320\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.8 x 8.6 x 5.6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e November 01, 2015\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46518854320230,"sku":"9780762787913","price":26.71,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0599\/7255\/0758\/files\/LeM2ejYDK09780762787913.webp?v=1785613852","url":"https:\/\/infinitylightwa.com\/products\/empire-of-mud-the-secret-history-of-washington-dc-paperback","provider":"Infinity Light","version":"1.0","type":"link"}