The Book of Revelations: Women and Their Secrets From the 1950s to the Present Day

by Juliet Nicolson

'I was riveted by every single page' ELIZABETH DAY
'A dazzling and surprising book' CLOVER STROUD
'I loved this book' JULIA SAMUEL

How have secrets changed over the generations, and what does that tell us about ourselves and our world? In her intimate new book, bestselling social historian Juliet Nicolson uncovers one of the most enigmatic yet revealing aspects of human behaviour.

According to a leading American psychotherapist most of us are keeping thirteen secrets at any one time. Secrets can thrill, but they are just as likely to torment; and the deepest ones echo far down the generations.

The secrets we keep inside reflect the conventions and taboos of the world outside. As women traditionally sit at the heart of family life, their secrets can open a unique window onto wider society. The Book of Revelations unlocks a period of significant transformation for women, from the restrictions just after the Second World War, through the emancipation of the 1960s and 1970s, to the opportunities and dangers women meet online today.

As we travel through time, we encounter deeply moving first-person stories, rich social history and Juliet’s own experiences of secrecy. We witness long-buried family secrets shared at last, their keepers set free. Finally, we are forced to wonder whether, after a steady upwards curve of liberation, our daughters and granddaughters are once again in danger of being curtailed by censure, caution and fear. Or will they learn from the secrets of the past, to find a more secure footing for the future?

‘An amazing achievement – teeming with life, vivid history rolling alongside personal stories. It has a thrilling energy, and the great release and relief of telling the truth and being heard. A precious testament to sisterhood and trust’ Hannah Dawson, editor of The Penguin Book of Feminist Writing

Genres: Nonfiction

384 pages, Hardcover

Published October 2, 2025

About the author

Juliet Nicolson is the author of 'The Perfect Summer: England 1911, Just Before the Storm' and 'The Great Silence: Britain From the Shadow of the First World War to the Dawn of the Jazz Age.' She read English at Oxford University and has worked in publishing in both the UK and the United States. She has two daughters, and lives with her husband in Sussex.

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A journey through our relationship with openness and secrecy. How we became more open, and how we’re closing down again. Women’s experiences divulge the difficulties over the decade, ending at the time of Trump’s second election win, despite horrendous policies against women (and many others, but that’s not within the scope of this book). It’s not a comfortable read, won’t be to everyone’s taste, but wow, it should be read.

[Angel Cranshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

brings perspective and power, very interesting Book!

[iCod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I loved this book. It was like a fascinating conversation with an old and wise friend. Just fab, thank you JN

[Morag Goldfinch]

Impossible to give a star rating. Fascinating, sometimes lurid, depressing in its account of loss of freedoms, whether in Afghanistan or in the USA right now.