Tristram Hunt

The life of Josiah Wedgwood, a pioneering advocate of the Industrial Revolution, is as inspiring and impassioned as his celebrated jasperware craftsmanship. Experimentation, innovation and a desire to take advantage of the latest technology to further the art of pottery, has today made Wedgewood a name synonymous with finest of pottery.
Tristram Hunt's compelling biography, The Radical Potter: The Life and Times of Josiah Wedgwood, is a wonderful introduction to the industrial and artistic worlds that created, and were created by, Josiah Wedgwood.
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Despite the majority of people's leanings being more towards socialism than conservatism, it is not surprising that the blue rosettes are so often successful over those of a redder hue. It almost seems that if two socialists are put into the same room, they will fight to the death over the heinous wrongs of one or the other: one believes that an election should be held upon Monday, whilst the other is convinced that Tuesday would be a more auspicious date. Tories, on the other hand, will paper over minor cracks, such as one of their number having senselessly slaughtered the entire family of another; just as long as they get elected.

Tristam Hunt seems to have written this tome for no other reason than to blame Marx and Engels for the Russian Revolution, the Great War and quite possibly England's failure to win more than one Football World Cup in the 21st century.

I read 370 pages and, I really can't say that I am any the wiser as to the personality of Friedrich Engels. The book follows a convoluted chronology and makes no attempt to explain the sometimes odd behaviour of Engels. Mr Hunt plays one communist off against another to show that the British Labour Party's weak version of socialism is the only true variety.

I don't recommend that you waste your time with this book.… (more)