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The Potter's Hand
In 1774, Josiah Wedgwood, master craftsman possessed with a burning scientific vision, embarks upon the thousand piece Frog Service for Catherine the Great. Josiah's nephew Tom journeys to America to buy clay from the Cherokee for this exquisite china. Tom is caught up in the American rebellion, and falls for a Cherokee woman who will come to play a crucial role in Josiah's late, great creation: the Portland Vase. As the family fortune is made, and Josiah's entrepreneurial brilliance creates an empire that will endure for generations, it is his daughter Sukey, future mother of Charles Darwin, who bears clear-eyed witness. A novel of epic scope, rich in warmth, intellect and humanity, The Potter's Hand explores the lives and loves of one of Britain's greatest families, whose travails are both ordinary - births, deaths, marriages, opium addiction, depression - and utterly extraordinary.
523 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2012
28 people are currently reading
272 people want to read
About the author
A.N. Wilson
117 books242 followersAndrew Norman Wilson is an English writer and newspaper columnist, known for his critical biographies, novels, works of popular history and religious views. He is an occasional columnist for the Daily Mail and former columnist for the London Evening Standard, and has been an occasional contributor to the Times Literary Supplement, New Statesman, The Spectator and The Observer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
October 16, 2012
An epic tale, which draws in the American Revolution, the industrial revolution, Voltaire, Josiah Wedgewood and his astonishing family and descendants (Charles Darwin among them). A very tender, wise, warm novel, written with humour and compassion.
December 13, 2012
Really enjoyed this novel of the life and times of Josiah Wedgewood. Times which included the American and French Revolutions, the British anti-slavery campaign, Pitt the Younger, the Industrial Revolution, the Lunar Society, and such family friends as the Darwins (Josiah's daughter Sarah was Charles Darwin's mother), Coleridge, Humphrey Davie, Blake, Stubbs, and many more.
February 24, 2020
Having read 'The Lunar Men' some time ago, I was interested to read a little more about Josiah Wedgewood and his family, who lived through these fascinating times. It was a little slow in parts, but enjoyed it overall, particularly the Staffordshire dialect, not too difficult for a Lancastrian to understand!
November 7, 2014
thoroughly enjoying this book about a msot amazing period in history - The Elightenment - and as an added bonus, a lot of the action takes place in the Potteries - putting my favourite part of the country well and truly into the Age of the Enlightenment.
April 9, 2024
Thought I’d try this fictional work based on a local hero from my home town. It has all the ingredients for a great story. Epic, a rich and glamorous dynasty. Intrigue, romance, fame.
The language left me divided. On the one hand I thought the use of archaic vocabulary bought authenticity to the characters and the narrative, but on the other hand, I thought the writer got a lot of the local slang and patois quite wrong ..... even though he’s a local himself (must’ve been from the posh end of Stoke) 🤭
Why use of “oop” (like in loop or hoop) in place of “up”. A quick reference to Potteries pit-talk guide would have put “his-sen” in place of “hissel” and replaced “canna” with “conner”.
We don’t contract the “to” to become t’ road ..... we just omit the definite arrival. We pronounce “know” with an extra rounded O ..... not “knaw”.
Of course, none of this is integral to the meaning of the story, but if you’re going to use the local lingo, do it properly or don’t do it.
But the book itself was great. In particular, the honest portrayal of this imperfect great man and the backdrop of social and political environments. I just wish I knew what was true and what was made up. But it was a very good story.
The language left me divided. On the one hand I thought the use of archaic vocabulary bought authenticity to the characters and the narrative, but on the other hand, I thought the writer got a lot of the local slang and patois quite wrong ..... even though he’s a local himself (must’ve been from the posh end of Stoke) 🤭
Why use of “oop” (like in loop or hoop) in place of “up”. A quick reference to Potteries pit-talk guide would have put “his-sen” in place of “hissel” and replaced “canna” with “conner”.
We don’t contract the “to” to become t’ road ..... we just omit the definite arrival. We pronounce “know” with an extra rounded O ..... not “knaw”.
Of course, none of this is integral to the meaning of the story, but if you’re going to use the local lingo, do it properly or don’t do it.
But the book itself was great. In particular, the honest portrayal of this imperfect great man and the backdrop of social and political environments. I just wish I knew what was true and what was made up. But it was a very good story.
Read
October 15, 2023Interesting book about the Wedgwood family.
A lot of historical facts and people are mentioned in the book.
What made it a bit difficult to read is the fact that they use the written dialect, without explanation.
But I liked the book anyhow.
A lot of historical facts and people are mentioned in the book.
What made it a bit difficult to read is the fact that they use the written dialect, without explanation.
But I liked the book anyhow.
March 7, 2013
I listened to this as an unabridged audiobook and initially found it very hard-going. Not because it was hard to follow, more that it was too simplistic, and I find the mixing of fact with fiction quite difficult - why should I care about Blue Squirrel, when she didn't exist but her lover Tom did - too weird. And some of the historical appearances, such as Voltaire, seemed too contrived.However, its a period of history and a group of non-fiction characters that I find fascinating, so I kept going. Once we'd finished trying to imagine life in a Cherokee camp, which didn't convince me, and returned to dear old Caleb Bowers and Sukey Wedgwood, I was much more engaged. Note of caution: the stuttering of Erasmus Darwin on the audiobook is overdone and slightly trying.
December 18, 2017
Dialogue without quotation marks and in North Staffs dialect at time, as well as small print just made it too difficult to continue.
January 27, 2021
An enjoyable but flawed novel. Some good bits but overall it felt a bit of a slog to read.
I like the basic premise. Wilson wants to demonstrate the interconnectedness of events in a period of history where seismic shifts in society were occurring across the world, with Josiah Wedgwood right at their heart, coming into contact with all the great names of the period, directly or indirectly. Yet at times, rather than the cornerstone of the novel, he feels like an incidental character, hovering in the background while historical events unfold around him. And there's no real insight into his mind - at times, it feels like we know the fictional characters better than the true life ones. And there are long, rambling passages describing entirely invented events, such as the fictional Caleb Bowers’ stream of consciousness on his romantic feelings towards Wedgwood’s wife. I didn’t feel this episode served any purpose in the novel and the whole chapter could have been cut out without losing anything.
Then there are bizarre episodes like the real life Tom Byerley taking part in Washington’s real life crossing of the Delaware, though there is no historical evidence to support the idea that he was present for this event, nor that he ever had a romantic liaison with a Cherokee woman who equally bizarrely ends up working as a potter in Wedgwood’s factory. Wilson admits in his postscript that the account is heavily fictionalised, especially in respect to Tom's life, but excuses this because his purpose is to pay homage to Wedgwood rather than give an accurate biographical account of his life. For me, this means the book ends up being neither one thing nor the other and is less satisfying as a result.
The writing is polished, as you’d expect from an author with AN Wilson’s experience, but I don’t much care for his style, which is irritatingly affected and often over-elaborate. There are also horribly clunky passages of dialogue or transcribed letters that seemingly serve no purpose other than exposition and feel inauthentic.
I also hated the 'knowing' nods and winks to historical characters and events - eg one of the younger Wedgwoods strikes up a friendship with this strange Coleridge character who is 'composing some foolish little poem about an old sailor on a mysterious voyage'.
I like the basic premise. Wilson wants to demonstrate the interconnectedness of events in a period of history where seismic shifts in society were occurring across the world, with Josiah Wedgwood right at their heart, coming into contact with all the great names of the period, directly or indirectly. Yet at times, rather than the cornerstone of the novel, he feels like an incidental character, hovering in the background while historical events unfold around him. And there's no real insight into his mind - at times, it feels like we know the fictional characters better than the true life ones. And there are long, rambling passages describing entirely invented events, such as the fictional Caleb Bowers’ stream of consciousness on his romantic feelings towards Wedgwood’s wife. I didn’t feel this episode served any purpose in the novel and the whole chapter could have been cut out without losing anything.
Then there are bizarre episodes like the real life Tom Byerley taking part in Washington’s real life crossing of the Delaware, though there is no historical evidence to support the idea that he was present for this event, nor that he ever had a romantic liaison with a Cherokee woman who equally bizarrely ends up working as a potter in Wedgwood’s factory. Wilson admits in his postscript that the account is heavily fictionalised, especially in respect to Tom's life, but excuses this because his purpose is to pay homage to Wedgwood rather than give an accurate biographical account of his life. For me, this means the book ends up being neither one thing nor the other and is less satisfying as a result.
The writing is polished, as you’d expect from an author with AN Wilson’s experience, but I don’t much care for his style, which is irritatingly affected and often over-elaborate. There are also horribly clunky passages of dialogue or transcribed letters that seemingly serve no purpose other than exposition and feel inauthentic.
I also hated the 'knowing' nods and winks to historical characters and events - eg one of the younger Wedgwoods strikes up a friendship with this strange Coleridge character who is 'composing some foolish little poem about an old sailor on a mysterious voyage'.
Read
September 1, 2020The prolific man of clay that A.N Wilson fires up on his storytelling wheel is the renowned Josiah (Jos) Wedgwood. This is not just a novel of history re-telling of Jos’ life in that it goes far beyond the Wedgwood’s thriving business by intertwining the context of politics and social philosophy of the times enshrouded by the two great revolutions in American and France. In order to achieve this – Wilson has to play around times, dates while also cleverly balancing historic figures with some of his own inventions. Despite this – the ultimate outcome works well.
Wilson’s approach is a broad one – including a number of sub-plots throughout. What may be surprising is the fact that old Josiah often seems to float around on the edge of his own story as much of the novel concentrates on his nephew, Tom Byerley and Jos’ oldest daughter, Sukey whose later children included Charles Darwin.
The inclusion of the Darwin family – is a key indication of Wilson’s slight tendency towards famous name dropping. It is true – to a large extend this is inevitable as Jos knew and interacted with a range of people we all know today. However, some of these name drops do seem slightly forced into the narrative in ways that do not add to a great deal to the central story.
That said – the quality of the writing is superb and the fascinating man that is Josiah Wedgewood is depicted effectively at a pivotal historic period. A modern day reader may wonder that anyone achieved anything – let alone building a hugely successful business – given the doses of medications, leg amputations and scalping featured in the novel.
I must confess – this novel wouldn’t have been my first choice – given my naivety towards this period of time. However, I began to develop an admiration for all of the characters – both the real ones and the ones created from Wilson’s ingenious mind.
Another thing was for sure – I came away from the novel desperate for a cup of tea – but only if it was served from an exquisite China Clay tea service.
Wilson’s approach is a broad one – including a number of sub-plots throughout. What may be surprising is the fact that old Josiah often seems to float around on the edge of his own story as much of the novel concentrates on his nephew, Tom Byerley and Jos’ oldest daughter, Sukey whose later children included Charles Darwin.
The inclusion of the Darwin family – is a key indication of Wilson’s slight tendency towards famous name dropping. It is true – to a large extend this is inevitable as Jos knew and interacted with a range of people we all know today. However, some of these name drops do seem slightly forced into the narrative in ways that do not add to a great deal to the central story.
That said – the quality of the writing is superb and the fascinating man that is Josiah Wedgewood is depicted effectively at a pivotal historic period. A modern day reader may wonder that anyone achieved anything – let alone building a hugely successful business – given the doses of medications, leg amputations and scalping featured in the novel.
I must confess – this novel wouldn’t have been my first choice – given my naivety towards this period of time. However, I began to develop an admiration for all of the characters – both the real ones and the ones created from Wilson’s ingenious mind.
Another thing was for sure – I came away from the novel desperate for a cup of tea – but only if it was served from an exquisite China Clay tea service.
August 30, 2021
Potter"s tale
The history lies heavy in this novel, at times it feels rather to much like a popular history text, despite which it commits the cardinal sin avoided by good history novelists and falsifies the timeline for dramatic effect. Dramatists are frequently guilty of this historical novelists generally have higher standards.
I felt the history was only part digested the sources rather too blatantly revealed as though one might find much simply taken from the official company history.
Erasmus Darwin who is an important element in the story is reduced to a few quirks although at least as interesting a character as Josiah Wedgewood. The American scenes do open up a view of colonial America not often described, while the betrayal of the Black troops who fought for the King was yet another reminder of the dirt in our past.
The history lies heavy in this novel, at times it feels rather to much like a popular history text, despite which it commits the cardinal sin avoided by good history novelists and falsifies the timeline for dramatic effect. Dramatists are frequently guilty of this historical novelists generally have higher standards.
I felt the history was only part digested the sources rather too blatantly revealed as though one might find much simply taken from the official company history.
Erasmus Darwin who is an important element in the story is reduced to a few quirks although at least as interesting a character as Josiah Wedgewood. The American scenes do open up a view of colonial America not often described, while the betrayal of the Black troops who fought for the King was yet another reminder of the dirt in our past.
August 25, 2021
I feel ambivalent about the three stars, as I did enjoy it, but the problem that AN Wilson, distinguished historian and son of the MD of Wedgwood and sons has, is that the book is such a terrible mix of fiction and fact. It's info dump after info dump.Fascinating period and set of characters and I learnt a lot.
At times he has an omniscient narrator perspective, then he's in third person, the next in first person mode. Makes the 'novel' really hard to read. He jumps forward a hundred years to talk about Josiah's Darwin descendants then back to when he was a lad.
The few characters that were fictional, eg, Caleb, and Blue Rabbit were better handled than his main historical characters.
At times he has an omniscient narrator perspective, then he's in third person, the next in first person mode. Makes the 'novel' really hard to read. He jumps forward a hundred years to talk about Josiah's Darwin descendants then back to when he was a lad.
The few characters that were fictional, eg, Caleb, and Blue Rabbit were better handled than his main historical characters.
April 11, 2024
The Potter’s Hand by A N Wilson
Wilson grew up in Staffordshire and his father was Managing Director of Josiah Wedgewood & Sons. He has written a number of biographies and although he claims that The Potter’s Hand is a work of fiction you find yourself wondering how much is fiction and how much is biographical fact. Certainly the wealth of information about the times Wedgewood lived in is true and can be verified.
If you enjoy history you will love this book. If you were expecting a novel then you might become a little tired of all the detail that doesn’t move the story along.
I still found it a good read and learnt a lot about the life and times of Josiah Wedgewood and his circle.
Wilson grew up in Staffordshire and his father was Managing Director of Josiah Wedgewood & Sons. He has written a number of biographies and although he claims that The Potter’s Hand is a work of fiction you find yourself wondering how much is fiction and how much is biographical fact. Certainly the wealth of information about the times Wedgewood lived in is true and can be verified.
If you enjoy history you will love this book. If you were expecting a novel then you might become a little tired of all the detail that doesn’t move the story along.
I still found it a good read and learnt a lot about the life and times of Josiah Wedgewood and his circle.
April 2, 2018
This has to be one of the best books I've read in a long time. Although a work of fiction it is solidly based on fact and the author clarifies fact from fiction in the afterword. A huge family saga with lots of historical description that allowed me to place the story and characters in history and learn about the era's politics, arts and lifestyles.
I did, however, initially find it difficult to get used to the lack of speech marks, but once I got that worked out it was an easy read.
I did, however, initially find it difficult to get used to the lack of speech marks, but once I got that worked out it was an easy read.
July 17, 2025
I found this book a brilliant and fascinating read. I knew little about Wedgewood but this historical fiction novel went into great detail but was told in stages which were easy to follow and very engaging. The only reason I have 3 stars and not 4 was some of the content which I found confronting. Not surprising given the time and era but there were parts that were still challenging to read and will stay with me for a long time.
March 18, 2017
The Potter's Hand sneers. The novel sneers at its ostensible protagonist Josiah Wedgwood, who appears to be too common for the author. He cannot help but trip himself over his own prose in a rush to criticise Wedgwood. Wedgwood may have been a prominent abolitionist, Am I Not a Man And a Brother?, but AN Wilson does little to capture this, while his descriptions of the prominent Native American character are troubling. The novel is over-long, over-written and curiously inert. Wilson crams a lot of historical asides into his novel, but gives them no weight. He just wants to prove how much he knows. Well, he may know a lot, but he can't craft a character or a plot. The novel is a formless family saga, as it drifts along, without intent, occasionally jumping out of time, before it ends long after it should.
July 1, 2020
Entertaining and gripping semi-biography / fictional biography / fantasy on the adult life of Josiah Wedgwood. Manages to be sprawling, ambitious, but still focused in on a tight group of central characters. On a personal note, something very pleasing about local places, where I grew up, went to school and now live, setting the scene for a big, ambitious novel like this.
January 22, 2021
This book seems not to be able to decide if it is fiction or history, and I feel an interest in the history of the industrial Revolution is vital to enjoy it. There were many interesting details about interactions between industrialists, scientists and artists of the day, but the sections I enjoyed most were the fictional creations.
September 3, 2018
Bit slow in places, overall I enjoyed it.
October 9, 2019
Enjoyed reading this very skillfully written book.
December 22, 2019
Bit wearisome and affected
Read
January 25, 2022Didn't like - was not aware that it is fiction.
June 19, 2022
Certainly a challenging book; fascinating in the amount of historical detail included. Felt that the characters were introduced, then almost abandoned. But even so - couldn’t put it down.
October 18, 2022
Didn’t finish, it was rambling and confusing and in the small amount I read it seemed to me to be relying on caricature/stereotypes for the Native American and female characters. Gave up 16% in.
January 8, 2015
The Potter's Hand offers an engaging romp through the 18th century following a distinguished cast of characters. The main point of reference in this constellation of characters of all classes and occupations (from scientists to barge-drivers) is Josiah Wedgwood. Wilson's free indirect style does a good job of exploring Josiah's tribulations, excitement over plans and ideas, and frustrations at his own limitations, giving us a lively portrait of an extraordinary man, without ever trivialising or sanctifying him. Wilson also has a keen sense of social history and the subtleties of the discourses of the time: a series of illustrious scientists and writers of the time, starting with Erasmus Darwin, show up to throw in a nod the major intellectual debates of the time. But then the perspective shifts to Caleb the well-read but down-trodden bargeman, Sadloli the Cherokee potter, or Josiah's own depressive wife Sally to give us a complementary account that would have been drowned out and left unrecorded at the time. This unlikely cast seems to always converge back to Josiah, reflecting on his large-than-life figure with admiration, resentment or condescension, and driving home the point of how much his success has driven him to linger between classes and worlds, without really belonging to any.
The narration, although smooth-flowing, sometimes seems to have a hard time deciding if it wants to have an omniscient wistful narrator or completely delve into the third person indirect free style. Often the prose is so didactical that at point at the beginning of the novel I was wondering if this was really a non-fiction account with narrative snippets. All in all it's an enjoyable, quick read that manages to fit in a lot of the contradictions of an age without feeling too bogged down by them.
The narration, although smooth-flowing, sometimes seems to have a hard time deciding if it wants to have an omniscient wistful narrator or completely delve into the third person indirect free style. Often the prose is so didactical that at point at the beginning of the novel I was wondering if this was really a non-fiction account with narrative snippets. All in all it's an enjoyable, quick read that manages to fit in a lot of the contradictions of an age without feeling too bogged down by them.
November 13, 2014
Suggested grade L-C1
Is this morally edifying? No. Did I learn anything of value about the Wedgwood or Darwin family? Yes, BUT I learned a whole lot, true or otherwise that I didn't want to know. Was it well written? Yes. Is this writer exceptional? Yes. BUT it is one of those books that is best avoided if you would like to preserve your moral integrity.
On the face of it, this is the story of the Wedgwood family and how their personal history crossed over with the Darwin family. It is important to say on the one hand that Wilson's father was the MD of Wedgwood for a time and it is apparent that Wilson has an extensive knowledge of the Wedgwood family. On the other hand Wilson is keen to point out that this is a work of fiction and while based on fact, he has manipulated time to coincide events that did not actually occur concurrently.
It saddens me when such great writers focus on the sordid and not necessarily true elements of life when they could put their genius to far more edifying material. In true modernist terms, Wilson presents Josiah Wedgwood as a genius but flawed ... sexually ... and the second main character, Wedgwood's nephew, Tom, another sexual deviant who is also remarkable professionally.
I didn't learn anything about the Darwins who were only present through the stuttering pervert family doctor, Darwin who is a repulsive caricature.
What a pity.
Is this morally edifying? No. Did I learn anything of value about the Wedgwood or Darwin family? Yes, BUT I learned a whole lot, true or otherwise that I didn't want to know. Was it well written? Yes. Is this writer exceptional? Yes. BUT it is one of those books that is best avoided if you would like to preserve your moral integrity.
On the face of it, this is the story of the Wedgwood family and how their personal history crossed over with the Darwin family. It is important to say on the one hand that Wilson's father was the MD of Wedgwood for a time and it is apparent that Wilson has an extensive knowledge of the Wedgwood family. On the other hand Wilson is keen to point out that this is a work of fiction and while based on fact, he has manipulated time to coincide events that did not actually occur concurrently.
It saddens me when such great writers focus on the sordid and not necessarily true elements of life when they could put their genius to far more edifying material. In true modernist terms, Wilson presents Josiah Wedgwood as a genius but flawed ... sexually ... and the second main character, Wedgwood's nephew, Tom, another sexual deviant who is also remarkable professionally.
I didn't learn anything about the Darwins who were only present through the stuttering pervert family doctor, Darwin who is a repulsive caricature.
What a pity.
November 11, 2013
What an undertaking, both to read and to write, I imagine. A rating of 2 seems hardly appropriate and after a rest I may revise this figure. This hefty novel embraces the history of the Wedgwood clan. Josiah uses his drive and technical mastery to create an empire that produces wares that will become the envy of all wealthy households. The novel doesn't stop there, though, and broaches an array of topics such as industrialization, revolution of the masses, genocide of the Native Americans, the rift between the working class and the aristocracy, the plight of the educated woman in a society where marriage is the woman's place, at least for the well-to-do. It is interesting subject matter but it is a novel so densely packed with themes and characters as to almost be a burden.
March 2, 2013
I had looked forward to reading this novel, as I have previously read some of the author's non-fiction biographies, and because its subject, Josiah Wedgewood was entirely unknown to me. I am not sure why Mr Wilson chose fiction for this outing, but I would have preferred a more straightforward biography, and surely Mr Wedgewood's life and achievements merited this. I did not find that I was desperately turning the pages to see what happened next. Nor did I particularly care, which was unusual given the period in which the novel was set was one of the most politically, philosophically and scientifically exciting periods in Western world history
July 12, 2013
I enjoyed this book as I did know abit about Josiah Wedgwood and was interested to know more. I loved the parts that were in potteries dialect and the references to particular places in North Staffordshire.
However, having realised that Caleb and Heffie Bowers and Blue Squirrel I did feel that this "extra story" was rather lost in the book and made me wonder what else was fictional.
It's a good read though didn't add to my knowledge of the wedgewood family though will encourage me to read a non fiction acount of his life.
However, having realised that Caleb and Heffie Bowers and Blue Squirrel I did feel that this "extra story" was rather lost in the book and made me wonder what else was fictional.
It's a good read though didn't add to my knowledge of the wedgewood family though will encourage me to read a non fiction acount of his life.
November 10, 2013
A historical fiction epic. Read a bit of it but mostly listened to it. It is a very tough read, but quite an enjoyable book to listen to because of all the accents. The dialogue is much easier to follow when listening to it. I enjoyed learning about what was going on in history when Josiah Wedgwood was building his empire (e.g. the war in the USA, the slavery debate etc), but found this book to be so dense that it ended up a bit dry.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews