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Ep. 1: Family Secrets

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Ep. 1: Family Secrets

By: Stephen Fry
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About this listen

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. Europe Great Britain
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I enjoyed this series but I couldn’t listen to it too often because of the dreadfully loud, repetitive and intrusive music playing almost constantly in the background. It really detracted from my enjoyment of the piece. The music was good but there was just far too much of it, it was far too loud and it went on and on and on...

Good but...

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As ever, Stephen Fry speaks with a clarity and diction that makes him a delight to hear. Less able readers would have been swamped by the most irritating musical background throughout, that made the next episode less appealing. Mr Fry’s ability to conjure emotions through spoken word was enough!

The Irritation of Background Piano

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Perfect writing, pace and narration. Full of humour, well researched and historically sound. I came out of the first episode with three more books in my reading list, a novel interest in Kaiser Wilhelm's private life, some reflection of ante littera queerness and greater admiration for British storytelling than ever.

Delightful!

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Absolutely loved it, I started Victorian secrets when I couldn’t sleep then I was hooked! I’ve been listening to it in bed, while doing housework and on breaks from work. Some interesting stories and real anecdotes from Diary’s and other writings from people of that time.

I do agree with some other people’s comments about the music though but this is worth looking past that in my opinion.

Binged the whole lot!

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I enjoyed the first episode but, although Audible write that all episodes are free, it is impossible to download the rest.

Pity!!

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