BESANT (Mrs. Annie, 1847-1933, née Wood, Freethinker, later Theosophist, Women’s Rights Activist)

Fine Autograph Letter Signed to Mr GIMSON (Sydney Ansell, 1860-1938, from 1888 President of the Leicester Secular Society) saying that she can “go to Leicester on March 22nd. I have recovered from last Sunday’s work, save for some aching of the limbs but the thing is that I must not run the risk of such exposure. The cold hits my heart, & the risk is too great...”, 1 side 8vo., “Annie Besant” headed paper, 19 Avenue Road, St John’s Wood, 16th June

Besant was a socialist, theosophist, freemason, women's rights and Home Rule activist, educationist, and campaigner for Indian nationalism. She was an ardent supporter of both Irish and Indian self-rule. She became the first female president of the Indian National Congress in 1917. She was a leading member of the National Secular Society alongside Charles Bradlaugh. She attacked the status of the Church of England as established church. The NSS argued for a secular state and an end to the special status of Christianity and allowed her to act as one of its public speakers. On 6th March 1881 she spoke at the opening of Leicester Secular Society's new Secular Hall in Humberstone Gate, Leicester.

Item Date:  1891

Stock No:  42666      £375

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