Ebury Press acquires biography of Queen Victoria by historian Fern Riddell
Ebury Press has acquired the new biography of Queen Victoria by broadcaster and historian Fern Riddell. Publishing Director Robyn Drury acquired UK and Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) to Victoria’s Secret from Kirsty McLachlan at Morgan Green Creatives. UK production company Impossible Factual has secured the TV rights to the book.
In the "pioneering" book, Riddell explores Victoria’s controversial and intimate relationship with her personal attendant John Brown and its legacy. The synopsis continues: "Unearthing new evidence, Riddell re-examines everything we thought we knew about one of Britain’s most iconic women."
Riddell is a cultural historian, and an expert in sex, suffrage and entertainment in the Victorian and Edwardian eras. She present Sky History’s Truthseekers, and is the host of Sky History’s Not What You Thought You Knew podcast. She is the author of books including Death In Ten Minutes and Sex: Lessons from History.
Continues…
Read More
Drury said: "I’ve been a huge fan of Fern for many years, and I’ve been totally enthralled by this new perspective on a queen who looms so large in the popular imagination. More than just the story of Victoria and John, this book is a sensitive and compelling human story of a woman in passionate midlife, reminding us that love and intimacy can take many forms throughout a woman’s entire life. I can’t wait for readers to discover it."
Riddell said: "I’m so excited to be revealing this story to the world with the fantastic team at Ebury, whose support has been incredible. This book shows us Queen Victoria as we’ve never seen her before: passionate, sexual and deeply in love with the man who brought her back from a suicidal depression after the death of Prince Albert."
Ebury Press will publish in hardback, audio and e-book editions on 31st July 2025.
