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Stephen Fry's Victorian Secrets

Written by: Stephen Fry

Length: 7 hrs and 40 mins

4.5 out of 5 stars (38 ratings)

Price: CDN$ 27.32

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We meet a Victorian woman who had more victims than Jack the Ripper, who killed people who were her nearest and supposedly dearest. She took out insurances on her close relatives, then she killed them, and then she moved on and started anew, elsewhere.

In March 1849 former slave Henry Brown, travelled from Virginia to find his freedom in Philadelphia. His method of travel? A box, around three feet long and two feet wide sent via private mail.

Oscar Jennings believed that one in four medical men were addicted to morphine in the 1890s. A lot of opium addiction was a result of the medical profession and their prescriptions.

Infants who were considered to be damaged at birth might be subjected to special ‘treatments’ such as the ‘Animal Bath’. These treatments included the slaughter of hares, where the still warm animal was wrapped around the deformity, the aim being that the strength of the wild animal would somehow transfer to the child.

There was a growing fear of being buried alive. Tales of moanings from graveyards, the insides of coffin lids being scratched and dented by the demented undead…even births of children in coffins haunted the Victorians.

The beard question was an important one for Victorian men. The pro-bread movement believed that beards could help prevent colds by filtering out the germs from the air, or could be draped over the head in the summer to be used as a parasol.

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Audible.ca reviews

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Overall

5 out of 5 stars
Performance

5 out of 5 stars
Story

5 out of 5 stars

K
2019-01-17

Really entertaining

I really enjoyed this. Fun to listen to and interesting. I hope for more like this in the future.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Overall

5 out of 5 stars
Performance

5 out of 5 stars
Story

5 out of 5 stars

SassyKat
2018-11-05

A Charming Series on Victorian History

As usual Stephen Fry brings his unique charm and storytelling skills to this series. I have a great love for Victorian history and this was fun, informative and educational. I have recommended this too so many people.

5 of 7 people found this review helpful

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5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars

Roseann Larstone
2018-11-30

Just Fantastic

One of the best series I have heard. Everyone should listen to be entertained and informed

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

Overall

5 out of 5 stars
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5 out of 5 stars
Story

5 out of 5 stars

Diamanda Pollock
2018-11-15

Stephen Fry is a master storyteller...

What a special treat to find out this was free on Audible! Noone tells a tale as well Stephen Fry, and he certainly delivers, yet again, with these illuminating, educational, and totally juicy accounts of the Victorian era! Stephen Fry, you're a gift to the world!