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Stephen Fry's Edwardian Secrets

By: Stephen Fry,John Woolf,Nick Baker
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  • Summary

  • Powered flight. Votes for women. Human sexuality. Mass migration. The psychology of dreams. The magic of the movies. Spies and detectives. Welcome to Stephen Fry’s Edwardian Secrets. 

    Perhaps thanks to TV period dramas, the popular imagination may picture the Edwardian era as an idyllic window between the wars, a time of manners and tea on the lawn. But below the surface lies a frenetic and often bizarre age where scientific leaps forward went hand in hand with belief in fairies, and secrets of sex, lies and murder simmered. 

    Across 12 episodes, in this sequel to his Victorian Secrets, Stephen Fry uncovers some of the startling and unexpected hidden histories of the Edwardians.
    ©2021 Audible, Ltd (P)2021 Audible, Ltd
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Episodes
  • Ep 1: A Hard Act to Follow

    Ep 1: A Hard Act to Follow
    Aug 11 2021

    The Queen is dead, long live the King. On the occasion of Edward Vll’s coronation, we look back at his life as spoilt child, curious adolescent and womanizing princely glutton. There’s a bizarre secret behind those early motion pictures of a new and rotund monarch.
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    31 mins
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  • Ep 2: Big Helpings

    Ep 2: Big Helpings
    Aug 11 2021

    This was to be an age of excess for some, and plenty for others. An age when the ruling classes enjoyed a secret life of large-scale adultery. Plus, the story of a female celebrity cook whose quail puddings were loved by the King. But was there more to their relationship?
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    36 mins
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  • Ep 3: Small Worlds

    Ep 3: Small Worlds
    Aug 11 2021

    The bumpy story of early British flight; some secret mysteries about the Titanic, plus the secrets of a famous pair of murderers who were tracked down thanks to new technology. Ships, Telegraphy and the popular press were shrinking the world, with some unforeseen results.
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    37 mins
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20th Century
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What listeners say about Stephen Fry's Edwardian Secrets

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Profile Image for Kirstine

Ruined by intrusive music

I greatly admire Stephen Fry as a narrator and enjoy history but have regretfully given up on this series as it is ruined by often very loud music making speech difficult to hear. I cannot understand why producers think that music played at the same time as speech adds anything except annoyance for the listener.

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102 people found this helpful

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  • S
  • 12-08-21

Fascinating and entertaining history

As ever from Mr Fry, a brilliant balance of entertaining storytelling and fascinating historical facts. Didn't realise how much of the modern world was shaped by this period. Highly recommended!

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17 people found this helpful

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Exceptional

Cannot imagine anyone else succeeding in this quite like Mr Fry, our National Treasure.
His vocal delivery and range, his matchless humour and sense of irony combine to make these little audio renderings into jewels in Audible's crown. We need more in a similar vein, please?

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8 people found this helpful

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Brilliant

Mr Fry is a lovely narrator with the added skits and views form professionals make it informative and entertaining! if you enjoyed this you need to check out his secrets of The Victorians too

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8 people found this helpful

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He has done it again

I loved the first series Fry did and this one is just as good. The topics are interesting and cleverly weaved together with great actors and music!!

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5 people found this helpful

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perfect atmospheric and informative

the addition of music and effects only enhances the experience. brilliant stuff and highly recommended

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excellent

Once again Mr Fry and company have produced an informative and educational look at a fascinating period of history. Well done.

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very intresting and enjoyable

really enjoying this and getting lots of ideas for further reading on the subject. so many things being bought out that I really had not thought about.

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Ear sized chunks of fun


Loved the Victorian secrets and this is just as good.

Love the 30 minute ish episodes to fill your ears with fun facts.

Delivered splendidly by the nations darling Stephen Fry.

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Entertaining and interesting

Brilliant performance, informative and entertaining. Glad I experienced it. Both this and the Victorian Secrets are well worth the listen.

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  • Andy
  • 13-08-21

Great! Where is Episode 3?

I like that this series was a more human, less sensational than Victorian Secrets, which I found deliciously gossipy in tone and loved almost every second. Edwardian Secrets felt less like I was listening to a delighted delve into the lurid private lives of very strange people (which the Victorians were, don't get me wrong) and more like I was hearing about how a whole era conceptualized itself and defined it's social norms while being a bunch of messy oddballs who didn't know how to feel about their national and social identities. They felt more like people, less like subject matter. This was great. Where is Episode 3?

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14 people found this helpful

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  • Shari S.
  • 13-08-21

Stephen Fry- an (Inter-)National Treasure

Fry could literally read cereal serials and I would listen. Loved the Victorian Secrets and am swooning over this one. More, please! (Where is episode 3? Was it especally scandalous? Bring it back!)

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8 people found this helpful

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  • Cody D. Howe
  • 27-08-21

loved it but had to stop listening

loved the history, the humor but got tired of the sex! almost soft-core porn. Very disappointed as I enjoy history and "documentaries".

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  • Deborah
  • 15-08-21

Good stuff - but where is Episode 3?

This is typical Fry level quality: informative, engaging, eccentric, and good fun! Stephen always makes you feel like he’s having a truly wonderful time, and he’s letting you in on his party - as a good friend.

He never disappoints.

However, episode 3 has been left off the list. Can you check into it, and add it back? When it’s Stephen Fry, you never want to miss a moment of the material…

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  • Elisabeth Clark
  • 13-08-21

Happy dance

edited 16.8.21:Yes, it's there now, but wasn't yesterday, I swear!
What's with episode 3? Love it so far, almost as much as my adoration and appreciation of Mr. Fry himself. For other SF fans, the British Library q&a on YouTube should be checked out, he offers great recommendations and thoughts on modern reading and media consumption.
More please, especially episode 3?!

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  • HailZoidberg
  • 13-08-21

Short Form Accessible History with a Twist of Fry

A time period I didn’t think much about is vividly brought to life, with each episode focusing on a separate aspect of the Edwardian era. Stephen Fry lends his wisdom, enthusiasm, and trademark deft touch to the narration.

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  • Olivia Dayton
  • 27-10-21

great

Stephen Frye does not disappoint. the story is interesting well researched and clever. that is broken up into multiple episodes makes it easier to listen to in the car or during your break I definitely suggest it.

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  • Amazon Customer
  • 12-09-21

Really excellent!

This was my Saturday and it was excellent history. I will be reading the books cited here to get more depth on the era.

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  • Amis
  • 16-08-21

Fun and informative.

I thought the earlier Victorian Secrets audiobook rather overrated but I was pleasantly surprised by the sample narration on this one. I’ve really enjoyed listening to it while traveling. This is a blend of stories and fairly serous historical studies and very entertaining. I might even have to revisit the earlier book.

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  • Kindle Customer
  • 15-08-21

where is chapter 3?

it's great! like anything Stephan fry does. love him! but where is chapter 3?? missing!

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