- Description
- 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.
- Production date
- 1776-1809.
- Call number
- mssHM 12183
- Provenance
- Purchased from Mrs. R. V. Coleman, May 1922. Mrs. R. V. Coleman was a great-granddaughter of John Piozzi.
- Restrictions
- Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.
- Rights
- 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 permission rests with the researcher.