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Who was Hester Thrale and why was she important to Samuel Johnson?

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Painting of Samuel Johnson showing Johnson seated at a desk with a quill in hand and papers before him, wearing a brown coat and white wig. — Samuel Johnson Samuel Johnson, oil on canvas by Sir Joshua Reynolds, c. 1756; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.

Hester Thrale (later Hester Lynch Piozzi) was an intelligent and lively English writer who became a central figure in the life of Samuel Johnson.12

She was important to Johnson primarily because she and her husband, Henry Thrale, provided him with a second home at their country estate in Streatham starting in 1765. This friendship offered the aging author a vital sense of belonging, hospitality, and social stimulation that helped alleviate his frequent struggles with loneliness and insomnia. The Thrales frequently invited Johnson on trips, including his only tour outside of Great Britain, and their home became a hub for distinguished visitors.21

Their close relationship was defined by a remarkable intimacy, evidenced by the extensive and candid letters Johnson wrote to her. However, the friendship ended in estrangement after she married Gabriel Piozzi in 1784, a union Johnson openly disapproved of. Following Johnson's death, she published Anecdotes of the late Samuel Johnson, LL.D. and his letters, which, while sparking a rivalry with James Boswell, provided valuable insight into the more affectionate and human side of Johnson’s character.21