Eastbourne author brings 200-year-old love story back to life
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A remarkable story of love, history and dedication has captured the attention of Eastbourne residents following the release of For the Love of Sarah: The Ellis Journals 1799–1835 by Mr Palmer.
The book tells the extraordinary true story of Sarah Ellis, a woman born in the late 18th century whose handwritten journals were discovered by chance and painstakingly brought back to life more than two centuries later.
Mr Palmer’s own life has been one of adventure, service and invention. Born near Surrey, he later moved to Perth, Australia, where his engineering work took him around the world, including projects connected with zoo parks in Australia, London and Dubai. In 1956 he joined the Royal Air Force, serving with Bomber Command as a refueller, before later building a career in engineering and design. Over the years, Mr Palmer also designed and built five houses from scratch, two in Australia and three in England.
The story behind the book began in 1989 when Mr Palmer was working in property probate in London. During his work he discovered a set of handwritten journals belonging to Sarah Ellis, sewn together by hand and written in pencil. What began as simple curiosity soon became a decades-long project. Together with his wife Evelyn, Mr Palmer spent years transcribing the fragile writings and researching Sarah’s life, visiting archives and tracing the places she once lived and travelled.
The result is For the Love of Sarah, a book that preserves not just historical detail but a deeply personal voice from the early 1800s.
Mr Palmer recently shared the remarkable story behind the book during a special meet-and-greet event at Mortain Place Care Home in Eastbourne, surrounded by his loving friends and family. The event proved a great success, drawing a large and enthusiastic audience of residents, staff and visitors who were eager to hear how Sarah’s journals were discovered and brought back to life.
Rob Hobbs from Mortain Place said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to have Mr Palmer with us at Mortain Place on respite recently. His life story is fascinating and hearing how For the Love of Sarah came to be is truly inspiring for both residents and staff. Mr Palmer made quite a following here and everyone wanted to hear more about Sarah and his incredible journey bringing her story back to life. We are so proud to see his book published and to have been part of this special chapter of his life.”
Though Mr Palmer modestly insists he is “not a natural writer,” his passion for preserving Sarah’s story shines through every page.
For the Love of Sarah: The Ellis Journals 1799–1835 is now available to purchase on Amazon.
Readers who enjoy history, personal stories and voices from the past will find the book a fascinating journey into life more than two centuries ago.
Purchase here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Love-Sarah-Ellis-Journals-1799-1835/dp/1036953335