Beryl Bainbridge chronicles the relationship during the 18th century between Samuel Johnson and Hester Thrale.
(S)

Arena: According to Beryl 9.00pm BBC Knowledge
Beryl Bainbridge's latest novel, According to Queeney, focuses on the relationship between Samuel Johnson and Hester Thrale and is considered by many people to be her finest. Bainbridge and director Udayan Prasad have joined forces to make this film, first shown last week on BBC2, about the last 20 years of Johnson's life. Jim Carter and Suzannah Harker read extracts from Johnson and Thrale's letters, while Beth Goddard and Bainbridge herself read from the novel.
Andrew Duncan interviews Beryl Bainbridge: page 30.
(Jane Rackham)