A History of Private Life - Secrets at Home - Illicit Guests

Historian Amanda Vickery presents a series which reveals the hidden history of home over 400 years. She draws on first-hand accounts from letters and diaries, many of which have never been heard before. Including songs which have been specially recorded for the series. Visitors - and new codes of politeness. As visiting begins in the 18th century, so the home is opened up for inspection. Stories from adultery cases about women sneaking lovers into the house and how impossible it was to keep anything from prying servants, who were literally peering through the keyhole. Readers: Deborah Findlay, John Sessions, Madeleine Brolly and Simon Tcherniak. Singers: Gwyneth Herbert and Thomas Guthrie, with David Owen Norris at the keyboard. A Loftus production for BBC Radio 4.