Victoria in Love

The Private Passion of a Queen

Fern Riddell

The passionate, provocative story of Queen Victoria's relationship with her servant John Brown that reveals the secrets that royal historians have kept from us.

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 immortalized in print and later onscreen. But what if there was more to their relationship than we know? And what has history been hiding from us?

Rumors 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 reexamines everything we thought we knew about one of Britain's most iconic women—and queens. 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 in Love 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 the extraordinary story of the emotional life of a queen, this compelling work of history presents a remarkable narrative of a woman in love.

Dr. Fern Riddell is a cultural historian and an expert on sex and suffrage during the Victorian and Edwardian eras. She is the author of several books published in Britain, 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 appeared in productions for the BBC, ITV, Sky Arts, Smithsonian, BBC Radio 3 and 4, and also as an expert for radio and television across the world. She writes for The Guardian, Huffington Post, Times Higher Education, The Telegraph, The New Statesman and BBC History Magazine. Fern lives in England.

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Endorsements & Reviews

Praise for Victoria in Love:

“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 in Love 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

"It is beyond doubt that Victoria and Brown loved each other.” The Sunday Times (London)