A stunning new story of Queen Victoria's secret love for her servant John Brown, by the acclaimed historian Fern Riddell. 'So often I told him no one loved him more than I did ... and he answered, \"Nor you than me. No-one loves you more\"...' 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 relationship than we know? And what has history been hiding from us? In this passionate and provocative exploration of Victoria's private passions, the acclaimed historian Fern Riddell re-examines everything we thought we knew about one of Britain's most iconic women. A timeless romance and an extraordinary retelling of the emotional life of a queen, Victoria's Secret is an unmissable account of a woman in love.

Details

ISBN13: 9781529199321
Format: Paperback / softback
Number of Pages: 416
Edition:
Publication Date: 05 Aug 2025
Publisher: Ebury Publishing
Publication City, Country: London, United Kingdom
Dimensions (cm): 13.5(H)x15.4(L)x3.2(W)526
Weight (gm): 526

Author Biography

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.

Reviews

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 Byron *
A witty, compelling, irresistible read that unpretentiously reveals a great deal about the Victorian age. -- Sathnam Sanghera, author of Empireland
Through 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'