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  • Summary

  • Of course, all families, high born and low have secrets. Confidential conditions of mind or body. Black sheep. Skeletons in cupboards. Unmentionable uncles. Naughty nephews... aunties who aren't... conventional. More often than not it boils down to something - sexual.

    This episode is about the keeping and uncovering of family secrets. In a way it unlocks all the secrets in all our episodes.

    Many Victorians, especially the more successful ones, feared shame. In a way this fear was something quite new. A new and growing newspaper industry was keen to amplify that shame. And a new middle class, desperate to cling to its new-found monied status, felt threatened. And, new theories about heredity, coming later in the century, meant that (perish the thought!) shamefulness could be passed on – like red hair or big feet - from generation to generation.
    ©2018 Audible, Ltd. (P)2018 Audible, Ltd.
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Great Britain
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What listeners say about Ep. 1: Family Secrets

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for JPS77

Ruined by the intrusive background music

Stephen Fry is one of my favourite narrators, and this would have been an interesting podcast, but I found impossible to concentrate on the words once I started to hear the irritating music played simultaneously in the background.

1 person found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Profile Image for Anonymous User

very interesting to hear the episodes

i didnt hear all episode just finished 2 as of now it was good and time paasing with good story to hear

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Profile Image for Anonymous User

Great Book

Family Secrets episode described very well, anyone can able to listen and enjoy this book very well.

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Profile Image for Justanotherbuyer

Fascinating, but unbearable because of music

The subject matter is fascinating, and delivered impeccably by Stephen Fry, this is the kind of thing I would adore, but I couldn't make it past 5 mins because of the background music, always there and horribly grating, totally distracts from the story and reading and adds nothing but annoyance to the atmosphere. Such a shame because it is otherwise a compelling and we'll delivered podcast.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Heather Hyink
  • 03-10-21

Simply wonderful.

I listened to this entire series twice in succession while filing books in the library.
Entertaining and incredibly informative, I learned something new with each listen. And laughed out loud each time.

1 person found this helpful

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Profile Image for Christian C.
  • Christian C.
  • 12-06-21

Great podcast series!

Stephen Fry has a magical ability to make any subject or topic fantastically fun and insanely funny. Each episode of "Victorian Secrets" is like a bumpy carriage ride into the past, exploring some aspect of Victorian life that many Victorian's might rather we leave unexplored. It was a truly fascinating era full of curiosity, exploration, new technologies, and self-awareness. Even so, the Victorians kept more than a few skeletons hidden away inside their closets. I thoroughly enjoyed the content of each episode, as well as the performances by all the audio actors. Really wish there were more than just 12 episodes!

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Profile Image for Gudbjorg Marta Gudjonsdottir
  • Gudbjorg Marta Gudjonsdottir
  • 25-11-20

Brillant

The scandals.. love it.. love it all.. from rhe first episode and on.. you brillant brillant man !!!

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    3 out of 5 stars
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Profile Image for Jul
  • Jul
  • 28-09-20

very different than I imagined

This series is different than I imagined it would be. I do appreciate learning the real history though.