The Intimate Letters of Hester Piozzi and Penelope Pennington, 1788-1821

In this vivid collection of correspondence, the voices of Hester Piozzi and her confidante Penelope Pennington echo across more than three decades of late‑eighteenth‑ and early‑nineteenth‑century life. Their letters reveal the daily rhythms of a woman balancing literary ambition, social obligations, and the intimate trials of marriage, widowhood, and travel. As members of the famous “blue‑stockings” circle, they comment with wit and candor on the books, debates, and personalities that shaped their world.

Accompanying the words are thirty carefully selected illustrations that bring the era to life, from portraiture of celebrated actors to sketches of bustling Bath rooms and private concerts. Listeners will hear personal anecdotes, tender reflections, and sharp observations that illuminate the cultural landscape of the period without sacrificing the private warmth of a friendship. The result is an intimate portrait of two remarkable women navigating the possibilities and constraints of their time.