Victoria's Secret

*The book that inspired the major Channel 4 documentary airing this summer!* 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, and her right-hand man; their friendship immortalised in print and later on-screen. But what if there was more to their relationship than we know? And what has history been hiding from us? Rumours have swirled around this relationship for years as historians have attempted to bring the truth to light - now for the first time, Dr Fern Riddell re-examines everything we thought we knew about one of Britain's most iconic women. Through unearthing groundbreaking new evidence, Riddell challenges the prevalent image of Victoria as a grieving widow to create a compelling human portrait of a woman in passionate midlife. Against a backdrop of court politics, family dynasties and the magic of the Highlands, Victoria's Secret untangles the mysteries that the royal family have tried to keep hidden for generations, forcing us to question 'who really writes our history'? Both 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. 'A witty, compelling, irresistible read that unpretentiously reveals a great deal about the Victorian age.' Sathnam Sanghera 'A meticulous unravelling of a 160-year-old mystery' Emily Brand 'Riveting, bold and deeply human' - Elinor Cleghorn 'Tender, surprising and just might change how we see Queen Victoria' - Robert Rinder

Dr. Fern Riddell is a renowned cultural historian. With a PhD from King's College London, she works as an expert author, broadcaster & consultant, uncovering incredible stories hidden by the past. Presenter of Sky History's Truthseekers and BBC 4's A Victorian Scandal, Fern also regularly contributes to documentaries across the world, exploring suffragette bombers to music hall stars, and the most fascinating stories she can find. An expert historian for both Audible and Spotify, Fern hosts Sky History's Not What You Thought You Knew podcast. Advising on dramas for several international broadcasters, she is known for her work on BAFTA award-winning BBC and Amazon Prime drama Ripper Street. Author of highly acclaimed books including Death In Ten Minutes and Sex: Lessons from History, which was a Daily Mail 'Book of the Week'. Fern writes widely for publications including the Guardian, Times Higher Education, the Telegraph, the New Statesman and BBC History Magazine.