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Stephen Fry's Edwardian Secrets

By: Stephen Fry,John Woolf,Nick Baker
Free with 30-day trial

$16.45/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

  • 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
    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
  • 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
  • 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

What listeners say about Stephen Fry's Edwardian Secrets

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Enjoyable

Very good narration as always from Stephen Fry, along with some great interviews and storylines. Worth the listen.

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4 people found this helpful

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Informative and fun!

Classic Stephen Fry- great story telling, interesting content.
Perfect length episodes to listen to while doing anything! Good for a laugh and for a learning session. Really liked how he incorporated experts and voice actors as well as his own story telling.
At the end you’ll wish there were more episodes!
10/10 will listen to again.

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3 people found this helpful

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Stephen Fry is the GOAT

Stephen Fry’s relationship with Amazon has to be one of the great working relationships in publishing history. It is so good, like everything he creates.

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2 people found this helpful

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A History buffs' delight.

Stephen Fry is brilliant as ever. A fabulous insight into the untold Edwardian era that you don't learn at school.

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Absolutely amazing!!

Stephen Fry's narration brings life to these secrets of the past. Fascinating and engaging.

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So enjoyable

Could not ask for more, enjoyable, very entertaining, educational, but without being didactic. Highly recommended

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Excellent

A great way to catch up on your history with the best narrator around. Stephen Fry brings the Edwardian period to life like few classroom teachers could.

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Brilliant

Entertaining, informative and fun; these podcasts bring the Edwardian period into sharp focus. Stephen Fry at his best!

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Great stuff

Stephen Fry is the only man to rival James May for highly entertaining narration. If you loved his Victorian Secrets, you’ll love this too

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Stephen Fry is Genius

Anything Stephen Fry narrates is incredibly enjoyable. I'm going to listen to the Harry Potter books due to his entertaining storytelling style.



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  • Andy
  • 13-08-2021

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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  • Shari S.
  • 13-08-2021

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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  • Cody D. Howe
  • 27-08-2021

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
  • 15-08-2021

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
  • 13-08-2021

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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