Fern Riddell – författare

The NOT-SO boring biographies of the queens and princesses who shattered royal conventions and empowered generations of girls just like you.Forget wilting wallflowers and doting daughters - the royal women in this unapologetic history book for kids 9-12 rocked the world with their skills, smarts, and confident attitude. Strap in for the true stories of wilful women who defied expectations, changed the course of history, and were sometimes just downright badass!From fearless fighters who rallied spectacular armies to no-nonsense negotiators who fought for independence, each woman in this book - from English queens to Byzantine empresses and African leaders - turned norms on their head and smashed gender stereotypes. Written by cultural historian, Dr. Fern Riddell, and brought to life with fresh, zingy illustrations by Taylor Dolan, this is history with a punk rock twist. Fun, relatable, and totally inspiring.Get ready for: History with Attitude: Royal biographies get a modern, energetic update, highlighting the specific ways women throughout the ages defied conventions.Global Legends: A truly diverse collection of women in history books for kids, featuring fierce females from all around the world.Bold, Bright Artwork: Badass illustrations reimagine historical queens as you’ve never seen them before.Educational & Empowering: A creative approach to learning about real historical figures, making their stories relatable to young readers’ lives today.Perfect for children aged 9–12, this is a must-have addition to any young feminist’s bookshelf - or for anyone who loves books about strong women.

Geneva, 1630Simon Kent races across the rain-battered landscape, haunted by a thousand regrets. He has only one mission now: deliver the book. He must succeed. Too many have died already for him to fail.London, 1816The moment that Mary Godwin locks eyes with debonair poet, Percy Shelley, she knows her life will never be the same again. Illicit love letters, stolen moments and tantalising touches make up their whirlwind romance, but when outside forces threaten to break them apart, there seems to be only one option left to them: run away to Italy. But thunderous skies await them there.When Mary discovers an ancient book of spells that’s been hidden for centuries, she is suddenly thrust into a world that is larger than ever seemed possible. But the book was hidden for a reason, and she soon realises that they’ve awoken something else. Something from the very depths of hell, and it's hungry for blood.Mary must destroy the creature before it's too late. But no one can be trusted, and people aren't always what they seem.

The NOT-SO boring biographies of the queens and princesses who shattered royal conventions and empowered generations of girls just like you.Forget wilting wallflowers and doting daughters - the royal women in this unapologetic history book for kids 9-12 rocked the world with their skills, smarts, and confident attitude. Strap in for the true stories of wilful women who defied expectations, changed the course of history, and were sometimes just downright badass!From fearless fighters who rallied spectacular armies to no-nonsense negotiators who fought for independence, each woman in this book - from English queens to Byzantine empresses and African leaders - turned norms on their head and smashed gender stereotypes. Written by cultural historian, Dr. Fern Riddell, and brought to life with fresh, zingy illustrations by Taylor Dolan, this is history with a punk rock twist. Fun, relatable, and totally inspiring.Get ready for: History with Attitude: Royal biographies get a modern, energetic update, highlighting the specific ways women throughout the ages defied conventions.Global Legends: A truly diverse collection of women in history books for kids, featuring fierce females from all around the world.Bold, Bright Artwork: Badass illustrations reimagine historical queens as you’ve never seen them before.Educational & Empowering: A creative approach to learning about real historical figures, making their stories relatable to young readers’ lives today.Perfect for children aged 9–12, this is a must-have addition to any young feminist’s bookshelf - or for anyone who loves books about strong women.

'Fierce, fresh and feminist, Fern Riddell tells the story of Suffragette Kitty Marion in a way that fizzes and shocks. Exciting, twisty and very very timely.' Lucy WorsleyIn Death in Ten Minutes Fern Riddell uncovers the story of radical suffragette Kitty Marion, told through never before seen personal diaries in Kitty's own hand. Kitty Marion was sent across the country by the Pankhurst family to carry out a nationwide campaign of bombings and arson attacks, as women fought for the vote using any means necessary. But in the aftermath of World War One, the dangerous and revolutionary actions of Kitty and other militant suffragettes were quickly hushed up and disowned by the previously proud movement, and the women who carried out these attacks were erased from our history. Now, for the first time, their untold story will be brought back to life.Telling a new history of the women's movement in the light of new and often shocking revelations, this book will ask the question: Why has the life of this incredible woman, and the violence of the suffragettes been forgotten? And, one hundred years later, why are women suddenly finding themselves under threat again?

Out now: the new book by Dr Fern Riddell, a powerful and entertaining history of sex. __________These are the facts: throughout history human beings have had sex. Sexual culture did not begin in the sixties. It has always been celebrated, needed, wanted and desired part of what it means to be human. So: what can learn by looking at the sexual lives of our ancestors? What does it tell us about our attitudes and worries today, and how can the past teach us a better way of looking forward? In this wide-ranging and powerful new history of sex, Dr Fern Riddell will uncover the sexual lives of our ancestors and show that, just like us, they were as preoccupied with sexual identities, masturbation, foreplay, sex, deviance; facing it with the same confusion, joy and accidental hilarity that we do today. Sex: Lessons from History is a revealing and fascinating look at how we've always been obsessed with how sex makes us who we are. __________

Out now: the new book by Dr Fern Riddell, a powerful and entertaining history of sex. Revised and updated. __________These are the facts: throughout history human beings have had sex. Sexual culture did not begin in the sixties. It has always been celebrated, needed, wanted and desired part of what it means to be human.So: what can learn by looking at the sexual lives of our ancestors? What does it tell us about our attitudes and worries today, and how can the past teach us a better way of looking forward?In this wide-ranging and powerful new history of sex, Dr Fern Riddell will uncover the sexual lives of our ancestors and show that, just like us, they were as preoccupied with sexual identities, masturbation, foreplay, sex, deviance; facing it with the same confusion, joy and accidental hilarity that we do today.Sex: Lessons from History is a revealing and fascinating look at how we've always been obsessed with how sex makes us who we are.__________

An exciting factual romp through sexual desire, practises and deviance in the Victorian era. The Victorian Guide to Sex will reveal advice and ideas on sexuality from the Victorian period. Drawing on both satirical and real life events from the period, it explores every facet of sexuality that the Victorians encountered.

Reproducing original advertisements and letters, with extracts taken from memoirs, legal cases, newspaper advice columns, and collections held in the Museum of London and the British Museum, this book lifts the veil from historical sexual attitudes.

*The book that inspired the major Channel 4 documentary airing this summer!*A passionate and provocative re-evaluation of Queen Victoria's relationship with her servant John Brown that uncovers the secrets the royal machine keeps from us, by acclaimed historian Dr Fern Riddell. From the moment John Brown arrived as a servant to Queen Victoria's household, he became known across the land as her loyal companion, her fierce protector, and her right-hand man; their friendship immortalised in print and later on-screen. But what if there was more to their relationship than we know? And what has history been hiding from us?Rumours have swirled around this relationship for years as historians have attempted to bring the truth to light – now for the first time, Dr Fern Riddell re-examines everything we thought we knew about one of Britain's most iconic women. Through unearthing groundbreaking new evidence, Riddell challenges the prevalent image of Victoria as a grieving widow to create a compelling human portrait of a woman in passionate midlife. Against a backdrop of court politics, family dynasties and the magic of the Highlands, Victoria’s Secret untangles the mysteries that the royal family have tried to keep hidden for generations, forcing us to question ‘who really writes our history’? Both a timeless romance and an extraordinary retelling of the emotional life of a queen, Victoria's Secret is an unmissable account of a woman in love. 'A witty, compelling, irresistible read that unpretentiously reveals a great deal about the Victorian age.' Sathnam Sanghera'A meticulous unravelling of a 160-year-old mystery' Emily Brand'Riveting, bold and deeply human' - Elinor Cleghorn'Tender, surprising and just might change how we see Queen Victoria' - Robert Rinder

NOW A GROUNDBREAKING DOCUMENTARY‘Now, at last, we know the truth about Queen Victoria and John Brown’ BENDOR GROSVENOR ‘Irresistible’ SATHNAM SANGHERA ‘So often I told him no one loved him more than I did ... and he answered, “nor you than me. No one loves you more”...’ From the moment John Brown arrived as a servant to Queen Victoria’s household, he became known across the land as her loyal companion, her fierce protector and her right-hand man – and the centre of scandalous rumours, whispered in secret. But what if there was more to their relationship than we know? Might Queen Victoria have had a second chance at love, in spite of everything her crown, country and family required from her? In this provocative exploration of Victoria’s private passions, the acclaimed historian Fern Riddell re-examines everything we thought we knew about one of Britain’s most iconic women. A timeless romance and an extraordinary retelling of the emotional life of a queen, Victoria’s Secret is an unmissable account of a woman in love. ‘This meticulous unravelling of a 160-year-old mystery showcases Riddell at her bold and passionate best’ EMILY BRAND ‘Riveting, bold and deeply human … Riddell reveals the woman behind the crown in all her fascinating complexity’ ELINOR CLEGHORN ‘It’s tender, surprising and might just change how we see her’ ROBERT RINDER ‘Fascinating’ ANTONIA FRASER

NOW A GROUNDBREAKING DOCUMENTARY‘Now, at last, we know the truth about Queen Victoria and John Brown’ BENDOR GROSVENOR ‘Irresistible’ SATHNAM SANGHERA ‘So often I told him no one loved him more than I did ... and he answered, “nor you than me. No one loves you more”...’ From the moment John Brown arrived as a servant to Queen Victoria’s household, he became known across the land as her loyal companion, her fierce protector and her right-hand man – and the centre of scandalous rumours, whispered in secret. But what if there was more to their relationship than we know? Might Queen Victoria have had a second chance at love, in spite of everything her crown, country and family required from her? In this provocative exploration of Victoria’s private passions, the acclaimed historian Fern Riddell re-examines everything we thought we knew about one of Britain’s most iconic women. A timeless romance and an extraordinary retelling of the emotional life of a queen, Victoria’s Secret is an unmissable account of a woman in love. ‘This meticulous unravelling of a 160-year-old mystery showcases Riddell at her bold and passionate best’ EMILY BRAND ‘Riveting, bold and deeply human … Riddell reveals the woman behind the crown in all her fascinating complexity’ ELINOR CLEGHORN ‘It’s tender, surprising and might just change how we see her’ ROBERT RINDER ‘Fascinating’ ANTONIA FRASER

Brought to you by Penguin.'Mine is a nature which requires being loved, and I have lost almost all those who loved me most on earth.'From the moment John Brown arrived as a servant to Queen Victoria's household, he became known across the land as her loyal companion, her fierce protector, and her right-hand man, their friendship immortalised in print and later on-screen. But what if there was more to their relationship than we know? And what has history been hiding from us?In this provocative exploration of Victoria's emotional world, and her passionate midlife, the acclaimed historian Fern Riddell re-examines everything we thought we knew about one of Britain's most iconic women. A timeless romance and an extraordinary retelling of the intimate life of a queen, Victoria's Secret is an unmissable account of a woman in love.(c) Fern Riddell 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

An exciting factual romp through sexual desire, practises and deviance in the Victorian era. The Victorian Guide to Sex will reveal advice and ideas on sexuality from the Victorian period. Drawing on both satirical and real life events from the period, it explores every facet of sexuality that the Victorians encountered. Reproducing original advertisements and letters, with extracts taken from memoirs, legal cases, newspaper advice columns, and collections held in the Museum of London and the British Museum, this book lifts the veil from historical sexual attitudes.

“If you sing before breakfast you will cry before supper...'' In their own words, what it meant for Victorians to dream of actors, April Fools, herrings or a railway ticket – why it was advised to throw a black snail by its horns over the left shoulder for good luck – and why it is essential to inform bees of a death in the family. “If one drops a knife, a woman is coming; a fork, a man is coming; a spoon, a fool.” Tappings on tables, questionable curatives, old wives'' tales and whispers from beyond the grave – Victorians were fascinated by the supernatural. Consult the Oracle was where they might have turned when they needed to identify a witch, interpret an omen or dream, required a natural cure or wanted to divine their future with a pack of cards – or simply wished to understand what the supernatural meant to them and their ancestors. First published in 1899, it offered a layman''s guide to ''matters magical and mysterious'', and today is a quirky glimpse of a supernatural age now lost, by turns haunting and hilarious.