Sarah Flower Adams was born on February 22, 1805 in Great Harlow in Essex. Originally her ambition was to be an actress but poor health ensured her career would now be that of a writer. A Unitarian by faith she is perhaps best known for her hymns which include "Nearer, my God, to Thee" and "He sendeth sun, He sendeth shower." However she also wrote for various magazines and produced a small but beautiful folio of poems and the remarkable Vivia Perpetua which we also publish here for you. Sarah died on August 14 1848.