Chloe Wilson, Annie Besant: ‘A Stormy, Public, Much Attacked and Slandered Life' on Annie Besant

“The Obscenity Trial. On 24 March 1877 Annie worked with Bradlaugh to republish Dr Charles Knowlton’s Fruits of Philosophy [1832] (a pamphlet that advocated the use of contraceptive practice); an act that led to the arrest of Besant and Bradlaugh on 6 April 1877 for transgressing the Obscene Publications Act 1857. The following ‘Obscenity trial’ was held on 18 June... both were proclaimed guilty. However, the sentence was overturned on a technicality so Besant and Bradlaugh were able to walk free. The arrest and trial were widely publicised across the country and while Annie lost her ‘good name’ in the process, the associated press coverage succeeded in propelling the pamphlet’s informative advice far beyond their initial reach... Annie acknowledged in 1886 that ‘I had long since given up my social reputation’ and spent the remainder of the decade openly professing socialism and dedicating her efforts to the unemployed and downtrodden. This endeavour led her to the plight of the Bryant and May ‘match girls’ working in the Bow factory in 1888 for whom she commanded a strike, successfully leading to the establishment of the Matchmakers Union and better wages – the event for which she has become most famous...”

“In 1889 (W. T.) Stead asked Annie to review... The Secret Doctrine by Madame H P Blavatsky who had founded the Theosophical Society in 1875... The Society was fashioned as a 'brotherhood' promoting unity; and was also concerned with preparing the world for the coming of the 'World Teacher'... Annie met with Blavatsky and became her pupil, having finally found, on her quest for truth, ‘the glory of my life’. Annie officially joined the Theosophical movement on 21 May 1889... Annie’s Theosophical beliefs then led her to India where she acted as a missionary for Theosophy, campaigned for the rights of women, and advocated for Indian Home Rule... she held the position of International President of the Theosophical Society from 1907 until her death in 1933. ..Annie Besant died on 20 September 1933 in Tamil Nadu, India (formerly Madras), aged 84. Despite leading a determinedly independent life, Annie suffered heavily for her choices, like so many other trailblazing women of her time and in her own words, ‘[…]with a great price I had obtained my freedom’. Annie explicitly demonstrated again and again that her life was one spent in an effort to better the world as best she could.”