"Steven Fry's Victorian Secrets," an Audible Original

Stephen Fry's Victorian Secrets (written by John Woolf and Nick Baker, and presented by Steven Fry and a cast of voice actors) is an Audible Original that delves into the life and times of those living in the UK during the Victorian Era (Britain from 1837 to 1901). The work covers a myriad of topics from sex and sexuality (with a particular focus on Lesbian and Gay individuals) to crime and punishment. 

Pros

• I was pleasantly surprised at the breadth of the proceedings, especially considering that this was an Audible freebie. In particular, I appreciate that light was shed on the lives of members of the lesbian and gay communities (even if they would not have referred to themselves as such at the time).
• Both Steven Fry and the various voice actors that contribute to this work do an admirable job presenting the material. 

Cons

• I was surprised by how grizzly the opening chapter was; they wasted no time getting into medical traumas and debauchery. I would not have minded a gentler introduction into the time period, to be honest.
• The "sound effects," (or more specifically, the way Steven Fry's voice was edited in post to sound like he was "in the sewers," or, "in a townhouse," etc) can be a bit over-done.
• It is often hard to tell what is historical fact and what is apocryphal. To the book's credit, however, a number of experts on the Victorian era are brought in to speak on their field of research, and quite a few other books about the era are mentioned over the course of the work.

Conclusion
"Victorian Secrets," was a fun, if forgettable romp. I can't imagine I'll be revisiting this work, but I also don't have any complaints for the price I paid ($0). Ultimately, if you have an interest in the Victorian Era and want something more approachable than a history textbook, this isn't a bad place to start.

Final Score
6/10