Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Piozzi, Hester Lynch, 1741-1821
- Abstract:
- A manuscript diary in six volumes kept by Hester Lynch Thrale Piozzi from 1776 to 1809.
- Extent:
- 0.84 Linear Feet (6 volumes)
- Language:
- Materials are in English.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item]. Hester Lynch Piozzi Thraliana, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
A manuscript diary kept by Hester Lynch Piozzi, from 1776 to 1809; with anecdotes, autobiographical fragments, marginal notes, and some correspondence copied into the volumes. In 1776, her husband, Henry Thrale, gave her the six blank diary books with the title "Thraliana" on the covers. Though called a diary, the work was intended to be like a French "Ana" which was a gathering of anecdotes; the English model was called a "Table-talk" and was meant to gather together anecdotes, quotations, observations, stories, verses, and whatever the author wished to remember. The focus of the first volumes is Samuel Johnson as they contain anecdotes and stories about his life; Piozzi used these as a basis for her "Anecdotes of the Late Samuel Johnson" (1786). After Henry Thrale died in April 1781, the work became more of a diary of her thoughts and life. The volumes are covered in unfinished calf with red labels with the title "Thraliana" on the front cover of each volume. All of the volumes have a ruled left hand margin which contain comments, dates, and other information deemed important by Piozzi.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Hester Lynch Salusbury Thrale Piozzi (1741-1821) was an important diarist, author and patron of the arts. She was born at Bodvel Hall, Caernarvonshire, Wales, the only daughter of Hester Lynch Cotton and Sir John Salusbury; she was very highly educated for a woman of her time. On October 11, 1763, Hester Piozzi married the rich brewer Henry Thrale, at St. Anne's Chapel, Soho, London. They had twelve children and lived at Streatham Park. After Thrale's death, she married Gabriel Mario Piozzi on July 25, 1784, an Italian music teacher who had taught the Thrale's children. Hester Piozzi was a friend of Samuel Johnson, James Boswell, Oliver Goldsmith, and Frances Burney, among other literary figures. She wrote "Anecdotes of the Late Samuel Johnson" (1786) which is an important source on the life of Johnson. Hester Piozzi died at Sion Row, Clifton, Bristol, of complications after a fall, and was buried on 16 May 1821.
- Acquisition information:
- Purchased from Mrs. R. V. Coleman, May 1922.
- Custodial history:
-
Mrs. R. V. Coleman was a great-granddaughter of John Piozzi.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Huntington Library staff, circa 1925. In May 2022, Gayle M. Richardson created an electronic finding aid.
- Arrangement:
-
Arranged chronologically.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
- Subjects:
- Table-talk -- History -- 18th
century
Table-talk -- History -- 19th century
Women authors, English -- 18th century
Women authors, English -- 19th century
Anecdotes
Autobiographies -- England -- 18th century
Autobiographies -- England -- 19th century
Diaries –- England –- 18th century
Diaries -- England -- 19th century - Names:
- Burney, Fanny, 1752-1840
- Places:
- England -- Biography
Access and use
- Restrictions:
-
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.
- Terms of access:
-
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
- Preferred citation:
-
[Identification of item]. Hester Lynch Piozzi Thraliana, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
- Location of this collection:
-
1151 Oxford RoadSan Marino, CA 91108, US
- Contact:
- (626) 405-2191