II. Pre-Theosophical Publications (1877-92)

Freethought Publishing Company books and pamphlets, with a few other socialist publications.

A. Freethought

[Mostly pamphlets: essays, reprinted articles, lectures, debates, etc. Only first editions noted. All published in conjunction with Charles Bradlaugh--London: Freethought Publishing Co.]

1877 English Republicanism. [Collected in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1877 The Fruits of Philosophy: A Treatise on the Population Question. Reprint of pamphlet by Charles Knowlton on contraception, with comments by Besant and Bradlaugh. [Cause of notorious obscenity trial, June 18, 1877.]

1877 The Gospel of Atheism. Lecture. [Excerpted in 1893 Autobiography. See Biographical Publications (1893-1947).]

1877 Is the Bible Indictable? Being an Inquiry whether the Bible Comes within the Ruling of the Lord Chief Justice as to Obscene Literature.

1877 The Law of Population: Its Consequences and Its Bearing upon Human Conduct and Morals. From National Reformer (October 7, 14, 21, 28, November 4, 1877). [Collected in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1877 In the High Court of Justice (Queen's Bench Division, June 18, 1877: The Queen versus Charles Bradlaugh and Annie Besant (Specially Reported). With Charles Bradlaugh.

1878 Christian Progress. [Collected in 1990 J. Gordon Melton. The Origins of Theosophy: Annie Besant--The Atheist Years. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1878 The Fruits of Christianity. National Secular Society Tract, no. 10. [Collected in 1990 J. Gordon Melton. The Origins of Theosophy: Annie Besant--The Atheist Years. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1878 Marriage As It Was, As It Is, and As It Should Be: A Plea for Reform. From National Reformer (February 17, March 10, 17, 24, 31, and April 14, 1878). [Also published 1879 in New York by Asa K. Butts, who added a “Sketch of the Life of Mrs. Besant reprinted from The Secular Chronicle; collected in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1878 My Path to Atheism. 1) On the Deity of Jesus of Nazareth; 2) A Comparison between the Fourth Gospel and the Three Synoptics; 3) On the Atonement; 4) On the Mediation and Salvation of Ecclesiastical Christianity; 5) On Eternal Torture; 6) On Inspiration; 7) On the Religious Education of Children; 8) Natural Religion versus Revealed Religion; 9) On the Nature and the Existence of God; 10) Euthanasia; 11) On Prayer; 12) Constructive Rationalism; 13) The Beauties of the Prayer-Book, pt. I; 14) The Beauties of the Prayer-Book, pt. II; 15) The Beauties of the Prayer-Book, pt. III; 16) The Church of England Catechism. [Collection of pamphlets published by T. Scott, listed in First Publications (1870-77), which see for detailed contents of the three parts of The Beauties of the Prayer-Book (ironic title!). These links are to 3rd ed. of 1885. Online version does not have a table of contents, hence the links to individual essays.]

1879 England, India, Afghanistan. [Reprinted in 1931 with The Story of Afghanistan as TPH pamphlet.]

1879 The Story of Afghanistan: Or, Why the Tory Government Gags the Indian Press. A Plea for the Weak Against the Strong. From National Reformer (December 14 and 21, 1879). [Reprinted in 1931 with England, India, Afghanistan as TPH pamphlet; collected in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1880 The English Land System. From National Reformer (January 11 and 18, 1880). [Collected in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1880 The Ethics of Punishment.

1880 The Jesus of the Gospels and the Influence of Christianity: Verbatim Report of the Two Nights' Debate between the Rev. A. Hatchard and Annie Besant, at the Hall of Science, November 25th and December 1st, 1880. [Collected in 1990 J. Gordon Melton. The Origins of Theosophy: Annie Besant--The Atheist Years. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

[1880 Law Breakers and Law Makers. Leaflet excerpted in 1893 Autobiography. See Biographical Publications (1893-1947).]

1880 The Social Aspects of Malthusianism. [Collected in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

[1880 We Seek for Truth. Address to D. M. Bennet. October 30, 1880: National Secular Society. Excerpted in 1893 Autobiography. See Biographical Publications (1893-1947).]

1881 England before the Repeal of the Corn Laws. [Forms part of 1881 Free Trade versus “Fair Trade.”]

1881 Free Trade versus “Fair Trade,” Being the Substance of Five Lectures. 1) England before the Repeal of the Corn Laws; 2) The History of the Anti-Corn-Law Struggle; 3) Labour and Land: Their Burdens, Duties, and Rights. 4) What Is Really Free Trade? 5) The Landlords’ Attempt to Mislead the Landless. October, 1881: Hall of Science, London. [Separately published pamphlets bound together.]

1881 God's Views on Marriage, As Revealed in the Old Testament. [Against the Bishop of Manchester’s declaration that Freethinkers believed in free love. Collected in 1990 J. Gordon Melton. The Origins of Theosophy: Annie Besant--The Atheist Years. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1881 Henry Varley Exposed. With special reference to Varley’s two pamphlets “An Address to the Electors of the Borough of Northampton,” and “Mr. Bradlaugh shown to be utterly unfit to Represent any English Constituency.”

1881 The History of the Anti-Corn-Law Struggle. [Forms part of 1881 Free Trade versus “Fair Trade.”]

1881 Labour and Land: Their Burdens, Duties, and Rights. [Forms part of 1881 Free Trade versus “Fair Trade.”]

1881 The Landlords’ Attempt to Mislead the Landless. [Forms part of 1881 Free Trade versus “Fair Trade.”]

1881 Light, Heat, and Sound. Specially Adapted for the Elementary Examination, South Kensington, on Sound, Light, and Heat. Hall of Science Manuals.

1881 The Transvaal. [Collected in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1881 Vivisection.

1881 What Is Really Fair Trade? [Forms part of 1881 Free Trade versus “Fair Trade.”]

1882 Blasphemy.

1882 Circulation. Lecture of September, 1881: Hall of Science: London. [Forms part of 1882 Physiology of the Home.]

1882 Coercion in Ireland and Its Results: A Plea for Justice. From National Reformer (April 30, 1882). [Ecerpted in 1893 Autobiography. See Biographical Publications (1893-1947). Collected in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1882 Digestion. Lecture of September, 1881: Hall of Science: London. [Forms part of 1882 Physiology of the Home.]

1882 Egypt. A Criticism of British Policy, 1875-82. From National Reformer (August 27 and September 3, 1882). [Collected in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1882 Electricity. Lecture I. Hall of Science Thursday Lectures, London.

1882 Electricity. Lecture II. Hall of Science Thursday Lectures, London.

1882 Electricity. Lecture III. Hall of Science Thursday Lectures, London.

1882 Electricity. Lecture IV. Hall of Science Thursday Lectures, London.

1882 Eyes and Ears: Six Chats on Seeing and Hearing. Lectures: Hall of Science.

1882 Force No Remedy. [The political situation in Ireland: The Phoenix Park Murders; excerpted in 1893 Autobiography. See Biographical Publications (1893-1947). Collected in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1882 Organs of Digestion. Lecture of September, 1881: Hall of Science: London. [Forms part of 1882 Physiology of the Home.]

1882 Physiology of the Home. In Hall of Science Thursday Lectures, First Series. 1) Digestion; 2) Organs of Digestion; 3) Circulation; 4) Respiration. September, 1881: Hall of Science Thursday Lectures, London. [Separately published pamphlets bound together.]

1882 Respiration. Lecture of September, 1881: Hall of Science: London. [Forms part of 1882 Physiology of the Home.]

1882 The True Basis of Morality. [Excerpted in 1893 Autobiography. See Biographical Publications (1893-1947).]

[1883 The Argument from Design. Lecture of September 30, 1883: North Street Lecture Hall, Leeds. Unpublished. Discussed in: 1885 Optimus. Is There Design, and Is the Designer Benevolent? Leeds: M’Corquodale and Co.]

1883 The Christian Creed; or, What It Is Blasphemy to Deny. Part 1. [Republished with part 2 in 1884.]

1883 Christianity: Its Evidences, Its Origin, Its Morality, Its History.

1883 History of the Great French Revolution: A Second Course of Lectures Continuing the Story of the Revolution from the Death of Louis XVI. Hall of Science, London. 7) The Republic in Death-Grips; 8) Gironde and Montagne; 9) To the Death of Marat; 10) The Birth of the Terror [these four lectures also published as a group]; 11) The Horror of Great Darkness; 12) The Hebertistes; 13) The Fall of Danton; 14) Glory and Grief [these four lectures also published as a group]. [Numbering takes into consideration a 2nd Freethought Publishing Co. edition of six lectures (the First Course) published under the same title in 1876 by C. Watts. See First Publications (1870-77). All fourteen lectures also reprinted in 1931 by TPH. See Theosophical Books (1892-1934). Online version does not have a table of contents, hence the links to individual lectures.]

1884 Biblical Biology: A Contribution to Religious Non-science. [Collected in 1990 J. Gordon Melton. The Origins of Theosophy: Annie Besant--The Atheist Years. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1884 The Christian Creed; or, What It Is Blasphemy to Deny. [Parts 1 and 2 together. Part 1 published separately under the same title in 1883. Excerpted in 1893 Autobiography. See Biographical Publications (1893-1947). Collected in 1990 J. Gordon Melton. The Origins of Theosophy: Annie Besant--The Atheist Years. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1884 The Myth of the Resurrection. Atheistic Platform, no. 9. [Part of The Atheistic Platform: Twelve Lectures by C. Bradlaugh, and others; also published as separate pamphlet.]

1884 The Story of the Soudan. Atheistic Platform, no. 5. [Part of The Atheistic Platform: Twelve Lectures by C. Bradlaugh, and others; also published as separate pamphlet; collected in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1884 What Is the Use of Prayer? Atheistic Platform, no. 1. [Part of The Atheistic Platform: Twelve Lectures by C. Bradlaugh, and others; also published as separate pamphlet.]

1884 Why Should Atheists Be Persecuted? Atheistic Platform, no. 12. [Part of The Atheistic Platform: Twelve Lectures by C. Bradlaugh, and others; also published as separate pamphlet.]

1885 August Comte: His Philosophy, His Religion, and His Sociology.

1885 Autobiographical Sketches. Reprints from Our Corner.

1885 Gordon Judged out of His Own Mouth. From National Reformer, (April 26 and May 3, 1885). [Major-General Charles George Gordon, Governor-General of the Sudan; collected in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1885 Is Christianity a Success?

1885 The Legalisation of Female Slavery in England. From National Reformer (June 4, 1876). [Collected in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1885 Legends and Tales. 1) Ganga, the River Maid; 2) The Stealing of Persephone; 3) The First Roses; 4) The Drowning of the World; 5) A Curious Adventure; 6) Drawn from the Waters; 7) The Wandering Jew; 8) Hypatia, the Girl Teacher; 9) Giordano Bruno. [Hypatia and Giordano Bruno reprinted from Our Corner. Book reissued by TPH in slightly abridged form in 1913 as Legends and Tales: Lotus Leaves for the Young, no. 1. See Theosophical Books (1892-1934).]

1885 The Natural History of the Christian Devil.

1885 The Redistribution of Political Power. On the Reform Bills of 1832, 1867, 1884. From Our Corner (March 1885). [Collected in 1887 Essays on Socialism; and again in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1885 Sin and Crime: Their Nature and Their Treatment.

1885 Woman’s Position According to the Bible.

1885 A World without God: A Reply to Miss Frances Power Cobbe. [With reference to “A Faithless World,” by Cobbe, published in The Contemporary Review. Excerpted in 1893 Autobiography. See Biographical Publications (1893-1947). Collected in 1990 J. Gordon Melton. The Origins of Theosophy: Annie Besant--The Atheist Years. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1886 A Burden on Labor. [Forms part of 1886 Disestablish the Church. Collected in 1990 J. Gordon Melton. The Origins of Theosophy: Annie Besant--The Atheist Years. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1886 A Creature of Crown and Parliament. [Forms part of 1886 Disestablish the Church. Collected in 1990 J. Gordon Melton. The Origins of Theosophy: Annie Besant--The Atheist Years. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1886 Disestablish the Church; or The Sins of the Church. Includes: Threatenings and Slaughters (parts 1-5); For the Crown and against the Nation; A Burden on Labour, and A Creature of Crown and Parliament. [Also published as separate pamphlets; and, without A Burden on Labour and A Creature of Crown and Parliament, as The Sins of the Church.]

1886 The Evolution of Society. From Our Corner (July-October, 1885). [Collected in 1887 Essays on Socialism; excerpted in 1893 Autobiography. See Biographical Publications (1893-1947). Collected in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1886 Life, Death, and Immortality. [Excerpted in 1893 Autobiography. See Biographical Publications (1893-1947). Collected in 1990 J. Gordon Melton. The Origins of Theosophy: Annie Besant--The Atheist Years. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1886 Modern Socialism. From Our Corner (February-May 1886). [Collected in 1887 Essays on Socialism; and again in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1886 Roots of Christianity; or, The Christian Religion before Christ.

1886 The Sins of the Church. Includes: Threatenings and Slaughters (parts 1-5) and For the Crown and against the Nation. [Augmented by two further essays to form 1886 Disestablish the Church.]

1886 Threatenings and Slaughters. England. I. [Forms part of 1886 The Sins of the Church and 1886 Disestablish the Church.]

1886 Threatenings and Slaughters. England. II. [Forms part of 1886 The Sins of the Church and 1886 Disestablish the Church.]

1886 Threatenings and Slaughters. England. III. [Forms part of 1886 The Sins of the Church and 1886 Disestablish the Church.]

1886 Threatenings and Slaughters. England. IV. [Forms part of 1886 The Sins of the Church and 1886 Disestablish the Church.]

1886 Threatenings and Slaughters. England. V. [Also includes For the Crown and against the Nation. Forms part of 1886 The Sins of the Church and 1886 Disestablish the Church.]

1886 Why I Am a Socialist. From Our Corner (September 1886). [Collected in 1887 Essays on Socialism; and again in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1886 The World and Its Gods. [Collected in 1990 J. Gordon Melton. The Origins of Theosophy: Annie Besant--The Atheist Years. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1887 Atheism and Its Bearing on Morals. A Debate between Annie Besant and the Rev. G. F. Handel Rowe.

1887 England’s Jubilee Gift to Ireland. National Reformer (May 8, 1887). [Collected in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1887 Essays Political and Social. 1) Marriage As It Was, As It Is, and As It Should Be; 2) Free Trade versus “Fair Trade” (England before the Repeal of the Corn Laws; The History of the Anti-Corn-Law Struggle; Labour and Land; What Is Really Free Trade?; The Landlords’ Attempt to Mislead the Landless); 3) Coercion in Ireland and Its Results; 4) Force No Remedy; 5) The Story of Afghanistan; 6) The Transvaal; 7) Egypt; 8) The Social Aspects of Malthusianism; 9) Civil and Religious Liberty; 10) Landlords and Tenant Farmers; 11) The English Land System; 12) English Republicanism; 13) Liberty, Equality, Fraternity; 14) The Political Status of Women; 15) The Ethics of Punishment; 16) Vivisection. [Previously published pamphlets bound together.]

1887 Essays on Socialism. 1) The Redistribution of Political Power; 2) The Evolution of Society; 3) Modern Socialism; 4) Why I Am a Socialist; 5) Radicalism and Socialism; 6) The Socialist Movement. [Separately published pamphlets bound together. See title of each pamphlet for link.]

1887 Radicalism and Socialism. From Our Corner (November-December 1886). [Collected in 1887 Essays on Socialism; and again in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1887 Socialism: For and Against. With Charles Bradlaugh. From Our Corner (March-April, June 1887). [Collected in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1887 The Socialist Movement. From Westminster Review (July 1886). [Collected in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1887 The Teachings of Christianity. A Debate between Annie Besant, Atheist, and the Rev. G. F. Handel Rowe, of Halifax, Clergyman of the Church of England. [Written exchange. Collected in 1990 J. Gordon Melton. The Origins of Theosophy: Annie Besant--The Atheist Years. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1887 Why I Do Not Believe in God. [Excerpted in 1893 Autobiography. See Biographical Publications (1893-1947). Collected in 1990 J. Gordon Melton. The Origins of Theosophy: Annie Besant--The Atheist Years. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1888 Theological Essays and Debates. [Separately published pamphlets bound together.]

1889 Why I Became a Theosophist. [The link is to a later American edition. Excerpted in 1893 Autobiography. See Biographical Publications (1893-1947). Collected in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1890 The Trades Union Movement. From National Reformer (December 22, 29, 1889, and January 5 and 12, 1890). [Collected in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1891 Charles Bradlaugh: A Sketch of His Life and Work. [Link is to another edition, published in San Francisco: The Reader's Library.]

B. Socialist

1887 Is Socialism Sound? Verbatim Report of a Four Night’s Debate between Annie Besant and G. W. Foote. February 2, 9, 16, 23, 1887: Hall of Science, London. London: Progressive Publishing Co.

1889 Fabian Essays in Socialism, ed. G. Bernard Shaw. Annie Besant: Industry under Socialism (reprinted from Our Corner). London: Fabian Society. Link is to 1894 edition. [Besant’s essay reprinted in 1930 as Adyar Library Pamphlet Series, no. 146.]

1890 Socialism versus Individualism. Debate of October 25, 1890: Mechanic’s Hall, Nottingham. Besant, representing the Fabian Society, versus Mr. Frank Millar, representing The Liberty and Property Defence League. Nottingham: C. J. Walton.

1892 What Is Socialism? A Discussion between Mrs. Annie Besant and Mr. W. J. Nairn. Glasgow: Glasgow Branch of the S.D.F. [Social Democratic Federation].