HESTER LYNCH PIOZZI (1774)

Née SALUSBURY.
MRS. THRALE.
THRALIANA.

Writer and friend of Samuel Johson.

In 1763 she married a wealthy brewer named Henry Thrale.

In January 1765 Samuel Johson was brought to dinner, and the next year, following a severe illness, Johnson spent most of the summer in the country with the Thrales.
Gradually, he became part of the family circle.

In 1781 Thrale died and his wife was left a wealthy widow.
To everyone´s dismay she fell in love with her daughter´s music master Gabriel Piozzi, an Italian singer and composer, married him in 1784 and set off for Italy on a honeymoon.
Dr. Johnson openly disapproved. The resulting estrangement saddened his last months of life.

When news reached her of Johson´s death she hastily compiled and sent back to England copy for Anecdotes of the late Samuel Johson, LL.D., during the last Twenty Years of his Life (1786) which thrust her into open rivalry with James Boswell.
The breanch was further widened when after her return to England in 1787 she brought out a two-volume edition of Letters to and from the late Samuel Johnson, LL.D. (1788).
Although less accurate in some details than Boswell´s her accounts show other aspects of Johson´s character, especially the more human and affectionate side of his nature.

When many old friends remained aloof, Mrs. Piozzi drew around her a new artistic circle, the central figure being the actress Sarah Siddons.

Her pen remained active and thousands of her entertaining, gossipy letters have survived.