The Mad Potter: George E. Ohr, Eccentric Genius, by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan

 The Mad Potter: George E. Ohr, Eccentric Genius 

Bibliography 

Greenberg, Jan & Jordan, Sandra. 2013. The Mad Potter: George E. Ohr, Eccentric Genius. New York, NY: Roaring Brook Press. ISBN  9781596438101. 

Plot Summary 

This book tells the story of George Ohr, a Mississippi potter who was ahead of his time.  George struggled to find his calling as a young man, but he finally fell in love with pottery after an apprenticeship with Joseph Meyer in New Orleans. Ohr was a boisterous character who was not afraid to promote his pottery around town. However, his pottery was not selling as hoped, despite considering himself a genius in the field of ceramics. He studied other ceramicists and read art journals, continuing to develop his unique style. However, his whimsical and rarely functional art pieces did not catch on in his southern home. It was not until 50 years after his death that his work achieved critical acclaim when his sons sold his horde of pottery to a collector. Years later, his work sells for tens of thousands of dollars at auction, and he has a museum named after him in Biloxi. 

Critical Analysis 

This book is a very straightforward biography and contains many colorful images of his work taken with modern cameras as well as black and white photographs of Ohr and his family and shop.  Many of Ohr’s quotes are highlighted in large whimsical print throughout the book.  The author does a great job of highlighting Ohr’s larger-than-life personality and dedication to his craft. 

Review Excerpts 

2014 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal Honor 

2014 Orbis Pictus Award Commendation 

School Library Journal Starred, 9/1/2013  

Daryl Grabarek writes “the authors do an excellent job describing this larger-than-life character through quotes and plentiful color photos of his pottery, or ‘mud babies’ as he referred to his creations.” 

Horn Book Guide 4/1/2014  

“Greenberg and Jordan have produced a magisterial portrait that's both a character study and an appreciation of their subject's oeuvre. Precise, vividly descriptive language; excellent, scrupulously sourced photos; and useful back matter all contribute to this eye-opening biography.” 

Connections 

I chose this book because I have made pottery in the past, and I was not disappointed. I am not sure that this book will appeal to readers who are not interested in ceramics or the arts, but as a fan of both, I found it quite fascinating. Readers may also enjoy Garth Clark’s The Mad Potter of Biloxi:  The Art and Life of George E. Ohr ISBN 9780896599277, Clay: Contemporary Ceramic Artisans by Amber Creswell Bell ISBN 9780500500729, or Nancy Andrews-Goebel The Pot that Juan Built ISBN 9781584300380.