Would Victoria have been shocked had she known her collected letters were to be edited by two homosexuals? Did she even know what a homosexual was? This is the only question left unexamined by Yvonne Ward, who has written an unusual and fascinating book.

James Lees-Milne in his 1986 biography was the first to reveal the predatory nature of Reginald Brett, 2nd Viscount Esher, which included a physical passion for his own son Maurice. Somehow Esher managed to keep what he called his ‘intime life’ secret from his powerful friends; he was a skilful networker and supreme courtier, on cordial terms with the royal family and, as private secretary to the Liberal leader the Marquess of Hartington (later 8th Duke of Devonshire), aware