The Diary of Sarah Clinch: A Spirited Socialite in Victorian Nova Scotia

by Sarah Clinch

By 1853, Halifax had evolved from a garrison town into a thriving mercantile city, complete with the customs and conventions of Victorian sensibilities. It was in this genteel social milieu that eighteen-year-old Sarah Clinch came to experience Victoria life to the fullest. Lavish dinner parties, fancy balls, sleigh rides, rowing the North West Arm, and a trip to the Annapolis Vallet keep the young Bostonian entertained and in constant contact with the most respected families and figures of the day. To record the events of her stay, Sarah kept a diary. More than a hundred years later, a researcher in search of a subject stumbled across Sarah's diary, and mid-century Nova Scotia and its people came alive as they never had before.

182 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2001

Reviews

[May · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting to know how people spent their daily lives in the 1850's. Especially interesting for us who are ftom the area and see familiar names.

[Noelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read, especially as someone living in the same neighbourhood this book is set.

It is written in 1854 and therefore a product of the time and views of its author, including some specific passages reflecting her views about the superiority of white colonists in their conflict with local indigenous people. This was not mentioned in other reviews or on the book jacket so I thought I would mention it here.

[Mj Amirault · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read.