This is an interesting and well written book and it is true to its title。 There is a lot in this book about his position as a dissenter， as a member of the Birmingham Lunar Society and the whole ethos of that time - which rather slows down the narrative of the more exciting story of Wedgwood's life and the development of the eponymous pottery whose Jasper ware is recognised throughout the world。 Josiah Wedgwood was an extraordinary man whose misfortune to have contracted smallpox meant that he c This is an interesting and well written book and it is true to its title。 There is a lot in this book about his position as a dissenter， as a member of the Birmingham Lunar Society and the whole ethos of that time - which rather slows down the narrative of the more exciting story of Wedgwood's life and the development of the eponymous pottery whose Jasper ware is recognised throughout the world。 Josiah Wedgwood was an extraordinary man whose misfortune to have contracted smallpox meant that he could no longer operate a potters wheel and so concentrated on the science of pottery making and the design of the products he made。 He was also a marketing genius using what we now call influencers， long before Instagram and Tik Tok， to help market his pottery and also created the idea of mail order and free delivery。 The story is fascinating and Tristram Hunt tells it well， but he is also determined that we appreciate what a radical Wedgwood was for his time。 Although not popular with everyone he was a supporter of the French Revolution， a passionate supporter of the abolitionist cause， designing an anti-slavery medallion which he gave away and was as iconic in its time as the CND badge became in ours。 He also invented a thermometer to measure the extreme heat in the pottery kiln which was a real innovation。 Wedgwood's life is a story that deserves to be told and I am glad I read this book。 。。。more