Ep. 1: Family Secrets

By: Stephen Fry

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.

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PLEASE STOP THE HORRIBLE MUSIC

Great but the CONSTANT MUSIC ruins it. That's my only beef. Very interesting guests. Probably a great read.

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!

Brillant

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

I loved all of it.

I love everything Stephen does. I have read other books he has done. He once did a show about Sherlock Homes.

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.