Victoria's Secret

Brought to you by Penguin.

‘Mine is a nature which requires being loved, and I have lost almost all those who loved me most on earth.’

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?

In this provocative exploration of Victoria's emotional world, and her passionate midlife, 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 intimate life of a queen, Victoria's Secret is an unmissable account of a woman in love.

© Fern Riddell 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025