The Diaries of Sarah Hurst records the day to day life of a young woman who lived in Horsham, Sussex between 1759 and 1762. Consequently, this book can claim to be one of the most important sources of information on life in the 18th century. The Diaries of Sarah Hurst not only create a vivid portrayal of the local town’s people they also provide a fascinating insight into the social history of women, as they contain the intimate thoughts and feelings of a young woman and her relationships with the people around her. Sarah’s intimate diaries can’t help but touch the reader as she writes about her love for Henry Smith, a man who was thirteen years older than her.