Victoria's Secret
The Private Passion of a Queen
$27.36
- Paperback
432 pages
- Release Date
14 July 2026
Summary
A stunning new story of Queen Victoria’s secret love for her servant John Brown, by the acclaimed historian Fern Riddell.
‘Weep with me for we all have lost the best, the truest heart that ever beat!’
From the moment John Brown arrived as a servant to Queen Victoria’s household, he became known across the land as her loyal companion, her fierce protector, and her right-hand man, their friendship immortalised in print and on-screen. But what if there was more to their relations…
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781529199338 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 1529199336 |
| Author: | Fern Riddell |
| Publisher: | Ebury Publishing |
| Imprint: | Ebury Press |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 432 |
| Release Date: | 14 July 2026 |
| Weight: | 314g |
| Dimensions: | 197mm x 128mm x 28mm |
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Critics Review
Victoria’s Secret reveals an astonishing new side to a queen we thought we knew, and a beautiful and revitalising portrait of a woman in love. This meticulous unravelling of a 160-year-old mystery showcases Riddell at her bold and passionate best. – Emily Brand, author of The Fall of the House of ByronA witty, compelling, irresistible read that unpretentiously reveals a great deal about the Victorian age. – Sathnam Sanghera, author of EmpirelandThrough her meticulous research and propulsive prose, Riddell reveals the women behind the crown in all her fascinating complexity. Riveting, bold, and deeply human, Victoria’s Secret is an absolute joy. – Elinor Cleghorn, author of ‘Unwell Women’
Fern Riddell’s quietly brilliant book explores a part of Queen Victoria’s life that history chose to forget.It’s tender, surprising and might just change how we see her.
– Robert Rinder, author of ‘The Trial and the Suspect’Fern Riddell has solved one of the greatest royal mysteries of all time. Now, at last, we know the truth about Queen Victoria and John Brown – Bendor Grosvenor, author of ‘The Invention of British Art’About The Author
Fern Riddell
Dr. Fern Riddell is a cultural historian and an expert in sex, suffrage, and entertainment during the Victorian and Edwardian eras.
She is the host of The History Channel’s podcast series #NotWhatYouThought and the presenter of BBC 4’s ‘A Victorian Scandal - The Rudest Book in Britain’.
Dr. Riddell is the author of books including Death In Ten Minutes and Sex - Lessons from History.
She served as a historical consultant for the BAFTA award-winning BBC and Amazon drama Ripper Street and has advised on dramas for the BBC and ITV2.
As an on-screen expert, she has appeared in specialist factual productions for BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Sky Arts, and Smithsonian. She has also contributed to BBC Radio 3 and 4, and has appeared as an expert historian for radio and television internationally. Her work includes collaborations with Audible and Spotify.
Dr. Riddell writes for The Guardian, Huffington Post, Times Higher Education, The Telegraph, The New Statesman, and BBC History Magazine. Her work has also been featured in The Daily Mail, Penthouse, and Time.com.
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