Hester: The remarkable life of Dr Johnson's 'Dear Mistress'
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Hester: The remarkable life of Dr Johnson's 'Dear Mistress' by Ian Mcintyre
Hester Thrale's relationship with Dr Johnson has been the subject of endless speculation. She was his sparring partner, his most intimate confidante, his 'Dear Mistress', and one of the most remarkable women of her time.
An reassessment of [Hester] is long overdue.. Ian McIntyre has risen to the challenge, bringing to life this effervescent character and society ... Crisp and exact. * Daily Telegraph *
An elegant and witty examination of an era of wit and intellectual elegance: quite simply, one of the best biographies I've ever read. * Tibor Fischer *
I have read Ian MacIntyre's Hester with sustained pleasure at its calm narrative nicely spiced with the hot stuff of Mrs Thrale's ups and downs. The greatest pleasure is in the clever accumulation of detail; the spirit of adventure in Georgian life, and its breadth of cultured reading, suggests an England at once more rugged and more cultivated than today's. Ian MacIntyre wears his learning lightly and brings Dr Johnson's favourite female stridingly to life. * Frederic Raphael *
[A] marvellously rich biography -- Frances Wilson * The Sunday Times *
Packed with fascinating information and gives a taste of life in Georgian England...remarkable * Sunday Express *
At last [Hester] has been given a detailed and sympathetic hearing -- Kate Chisholm * The Spectator *
Supremely entertaining -- Tibor Fischer
Fascinating * Telegraph *
A story of a remarkable if not altogether likeable woman, well told * Sunday Telegraph *
The best biography of the year * The Tablet *
McIntyre is to be commended for portraying Hester's variability as the source of her strength rather than as a feminine weakness. In his affection and respect for her intellectual curiosity, emotional resilience and relish for life, he presents us with an 18th -century sensibility no less representative than Johnson's, but one demanding recognition rather than reverence. * London Review of Books *
An elegant and witty examination of an era of wit and intellectual elegance: quite simply, one of the best biographies I've ever read. * Tibor Fischer *
I have read Ian MacIntyre's Hester with sustained pleasure at its calm narrative nicely spiced with the hot stuff of Mrs Thrale's ups and downs. The greatest pleasure is in the clever accumulation of detail; the spirit of adventure in Georgian life, and its breadth of cultured reading, suggests an England at once more rugged and more cultivated than today's. Ian MacIntyre wears his learning lightly and brings Dr Johnson's favourite female stridingly to life. * Frederic Raphael *
[A] marvellously rich biography -- Frances Wilson * The Sunday Times *
Packed with fascinating information and gives a taste of life in Georgian England...remarkable * Sunday Express *
At last [Hester] has been given a detailed and sympathetic hearing -- Kate Chisholm * The Spectator *
Supremely entertaining -- Tibor Fischer
Fascinating * Telegraph *
A story of a remarkable if not altogether likeable woman, well told * Sunday Telegraph *
The best biography of the year * The Tablet *
McIntyre is to be commended for portraying Hester's variability as the source of her strength rather than as a feminine weakness. In his affection and respect for her intellectual curiosity, emotional resilience and relish for life, he presents us with an 18th -century sensibility no less representative than Johnson's, but one demanding recognition rather than reverence. * London Review of Books *
Ian McIntyre was Controller of BBC Radio 3 for nine years and is a former associate editor of The Times. He is the author of a highly acclaimed biography of Robert Burns ('the biography', Ian Hamilton, The Times) as well as lives of Joshua Reynolds, Garrick and the BBC's first Director-General, John Reith. He still broadcasts and is a regular contributor to The Times.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781845294496 |
| ISBN 10 | 1845294491 |
| Title | Hester: The remarkable life of Dr Johnson's 'Dear Mistress' |
| Author | Ian Mcintyre |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Little, Brown Book Group |
| Year published | 2008-11-06 |
| Number of pages | 320 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |