Hester Maria Thrale

Radio Time listing. 6 October 2001

A one-off film in which author Beryl Bainbridge chronicles the extraordinary relationship during the 18th century between Samuel Johnson and Hester Thrale, the wife of rich London brewer Henry Thrale, which forms the basis for her latest novel, According to Queeney

Johnson lived with the Thrales for most of the last 20 years of his life, during which time Hester nursed him through his bouts of melancholia and gout - until she ran off with her daughter Queeney’s Italian singing teacher.

Jim Carter and Suzannah Harker read extracts from letters Johnson and Mrs Thrale wrote to each other. Beth Goddard and Bainbridge herself read from According to Queeney.

Director Udayan Prasad; Producer Anthony Wall.

Radio Times 'According to Beryl' listing.

Hotly tipped to win this year’s Booker Prize and yet, surprisingly, not in the shortlisted six, Beryl Bainbridge’s novel According to Queeney is generally considered to be one of her best. It brings to life the last 20 years of the extravagant figure of 18th-century scholar and wit Samuel Johnson and explores one of his less well-documented relationships – with rich brewer Henry Thrale and his wife.

Director Udayan Prasad came across the story independently and had begun to develop a film on the subject when he discovered Bainbridge was writing about it, too. They joined forces for this poignant and amusing tale.

Jane Rackham.

Radio Times 'According to Beryl' article. 6 October 2001.

The programme

The programme starts - like the book - with Beryl Bainbridge discussing Samuel Johnson’s post-mortem and reading from the original handwritten post-mortem record. Beryl Bainbridge always does a painting after each book, and this one is called 'The Latin Lesson'. It shows a painting of Samuel Johnson, Beryl Bainbridge and her editor - who once taught Latin to her, as Johnson once taught Queeney Latin. Stuck onto the painting are reproductions of James Boswell, Tetty (Johnson’s wife), Mr & Mrs David Garrick and Hester Thrale, the one closest to his heart, and Queeney with the Pope.

Bainbridge visits Johnson’s Gough Square house and talks about:

• Johnson’s mannerisms, and
• Joshua Reynolds’ portrait of Johnson.

She describes Johnson’s household and the event when Johnson was in deep despair - near to insanity - and was rescued by the Thrales who then took Johnson to live with them at Streatham Park.

The programme shows:

• an oil painting of Streatham Park;
• Robert Edge Pine’s portrait of Hester Thrale.;
• Joshua Reynolds’ portrait of Henry Thrale; and
• a further portrait of Henry Thrale.

Bainbridge describes how Johnson was introduced to the Thrales through their friend Arthur Murphy.

Bainbridge goes to Streatham - now a London suburb - and goes up a hoist crane, comparing an old map of Streatham Park, whilst describing how it was at that time. Bainbridge talks of Johnson’s happy family life with the Thrale family here. Actors read from parting letters of Johnson & Thrale.

Bainbridge visits a Council Estate in Streatham and sees a blue wall plaque inscribed …

Streatham Society
On this site stood
STREATHAM PLACE
the villa of the Thrales in which
Dr SAMUEL JOHNSON
frequently stayed
between 1766 - 1782

Bainbridge talks to the Streatham locals, some of whom know of Thrale and Johnson. She sees the Mulberry tree left from Streatham Place under which Johnson liked to sit and Hester Thrale’s pet Spaniel dog - Belle - was buried.

Bainbridge talks about Thrale’s 12 children.

The programme shows:

• a miniature drawing of Hester Thrale;
• the portrait of Hester and Queeney by Sir Joshua Reynolds
• an engraving of Hester Thrale and Samuel Johnson.

On the Streatham Council estate, many of the buildings are named after Johnson’s contemporaries: