The diary covers the early stage of Trollope's career. He is working in St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, in the first part of the diary. He takes a trip to Margate (by steamer from London) 1-4 Aug 1856 (fol. 37v-40). He travels by train to look at possible placements in Kidderminster and York (fols. 95-96), travelling back to London with a 'Mr Measom engaged in writing Illustrated Guide Books for this line' [George Measom, The Official Illustrated Guide to the Great Northern Railway, (London, 1857)]. He visits his fiancée, Sarah Huffam, and her family in Brighton (fols. 98v-102v). In London there are brief accounts of hospital duties, mainly concerned with women and children, medical visits, and frequent meetings with his fiancée. On 7 March 1857 he goes into partnership with Jackson and Jeaffreson who have a surgery in Sebbon's Buildings (fol. 125), lodging with Mr Jackson at 9 Highbury Grove Villas (fol. 126v). He reads mainly newspapers and Medical Times, but mentions reading Little Dorrit (fol. 38v), and Household Words (fol. 102v).