Victoria's Secret by Fern Riddell - ISBN: 9781529199321
Paperback
Scandalous love, royal secrets: Victoria and her servant revealed at last.

Victoria's Secret

The Private Passion of a Queen

$29.75

  • Paperback

    416 pages

  • Release Date

    5 August 2025

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Summary

A stunning new story of Queen Victoria’s secret love for her servant John Brown, by the acclaimed historian Fern Riddell.

A passionate and provocative re-evaluation of Queen Victoria’s relationship with her servant John Brown that uncovers the secrets the royal machine keeps from us, by acclaimed historian Dr Fern Riddell.

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,…

Book Details

ISBN-13:9781529199321
ISBN-10:1529199328
Author:Fern Riddell
Publisher:Ebury Publishing
Imprint:Ebury Press
Format:Paperback
Number of Pages:416
Release Date:5 August 2025
Weight:526g
Dimensions:135mm x 154mm x 32mm
What They're Saying

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’It is beyond doubt that Victoria and Brown loved each other * Sunday Times *Fern Riddell has solved one of the greatest royal mysteries of all time. Now, at last, we know the truth about Victoria and John Brown. * Bendor Grosvenor *

About The Author

Fern Riddell

Dr Fern Riddell is a cultural historian, and an expert in sex, suffrage and entertainment in the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Host of The History Channel’s Podcast series #NotWhatYouThought and Presenter of BBC 4’s ‘A Victorian Scandal- The Rudest Book in Britain’ she is the author of books including Death In Ten Minutes and Sex- Lessons from History. Historical Consultant for the BAFTA award-winning BBC and Amazon drama Ripper Street, she has advised on dramas for both the BBC and ITV2. As an on screen expert, she has appeared on Specialist Factual productions for the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Sky Arts, Smithsonian, BBC Radio 3 and 4, and has appeared as an expert historian for radio and television across the world, having worked with both Audible and Spotify. She writes for The Guardian, Huffington Post, Times Higher Education, The Telegraph, The New Statesman and BBC History Magazine. Her work has also appeared in THE DAILY MAIL, Penthouse and Time.COM.

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