HomeStore

LETTERS TO SOPHIA: THE AFTERLIVES OF HESTER THRALE

Product image 1
1 / 3

LETTERS TO SOPHIA: THE AFTERLIVES OF HESTER THRALE

The story of Hester Thrale’s life after her second marriage to Gabriel Piozzi in 1784, told through the letters she wrote to her daughter Sophia.

The chance discovery of letters from Hester Thrale (1741–1821) to her daughter, Sophia, offers an opportunity to rethink our understanding of one of the key figures in the life of the dictionary-maker and moralist, Dr Samuel Johnson.

Much-maligned after the death of her first husband for her decision to marry Gabriel Piozzi, an Italian musician and Catholic, Hester has often been portrayed as cold-hearted and lacking in the essentials of motherhood.
These letters shed new light on her relations with her four surviving daughters (she gave birth to 12 children in 14 years). They also reveal her desire for recognition as a scholar and poet, as well as her keen awareness of her shortcomings. They provide a fascinating portrait of a complex woman, determining her independence and that of her daughters, in spite of family tragedy and vicious criticism in the press.
  • 194 pages
  • Hardcover

The story of Hester Thrale’s life after her second marriage to Gabriel Piozzi in 1784, told through the letters she wrote to her daughter Sophia.

The chance discovery of letters from Hester Thrale (1741–1821) to her daughter, Sophia, offers an opportunity to rethink our understanding of one of the key figures in the life of the dictionary-maker and moralist, Dr Samuel Johnson.

Much-maligned after the death of her first husband for her decision to marry Gabriel Piozzi, an Italian musician and Catholic, Hester has often been portrayed as cold-hearted and lacking in the essentials of motherhood.
These letters shed new light on her relations with her four surviving daughters (she gave birth to 12 children in 14 years). They also reveal her desire for recognition as a scholar and poet, as well as her keen awareness of her shortcomings. They provide a fascinating portrait of a complex woman, determining her independence and that of her daughters, in spite of family tragedy and vicious criticism in the press.
  • 194 pages
  • Hardcover
$20.00
LETTERS TO SOPHIA: THE AFTERLIVES OF HESTER THRALE—
$20.00

Description

The story of Hester Thrale’s life after her second marriage to Gabriel Piozzi in 1784, told through the letters she wrote to her daughter Sophia.

The chance discovery of letters from Hester Thrale (1741–1821) to her daughter, Sophia, offers an opportunity to rethink our understanding of one of the key figures in the life of the dictionary-maker and moralist, Dr Samuel Johnson.

Much-maligned after the death of her first husband for her decision to marry Gabriel Piozzi, an Italian musician and Catholic, Hester has often been portrayed as cold-hearted and lacking in the essentials of motherhood.
These letters shed new light on her relations with her four surviving daughters (she gave birth to 12 children in 14 years). They also reveal her desire for recognition as a scholar and poet, as well as her keen awareness of her shortcomings. They provide a fascinating portrait of a complex woman, determining her independence and that of her daughters, in spite of family tragedy and vicious criticism in the press.
  • 194 pages
  • Hardcover
LETTERS TO SOPHIA: THE AFTERLIVES OF HESTER THRALE | The Huntington Store