*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
