I. First Publications (1870-77)

Annie Besant's earliest books and pamphlets, primarily published by T. Scott and C. Watts.

[Some dates for items published by C. Watts uncertain. First editions listed, unless otherwise noted.]

[1870 Notes on Fasting, by a Layman. Privately printed by Rev. Frank Besant. Essay composed in 1866 under the title A Paper on the Duty of Fasting. Mentioned in 1960 Nethercot, The First Five Lives of Annie Besant.]

1873 On the Deity of Jesus of Nazareth. An Enquiry into the Nature of Jesus by an Examination of the Synoptic Gospels. By the Wife of a Beneficed Clergyman [Annie Besant]. Edited and prefaced by Rev. Charles Voysey. London: T. Scott.

1873 “According to St. John.” On the Deity of Jesus of Nazareth. Part II. A Comparison between the Fourth Gospel and the Three Synoptics. By the Wife of a Beneficed Clergyman [Annie Besant]. Edited and prefaced by Rev. Charles Voysey. London: T. Scott. [Link is to 1878 My Path to Atheism, 3rd ed. of 1885. See Pre-Theosophical Publications (1877-92).]

1874 Civil and Religious Liberty: With Some Hints Taken from the French Revolution. Lecture. London: C. Watts. [Collected in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1874 Liberty, Equality, Fraternity. London: C. Watts. [Collected in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1874 Natural Religion versus Revealed Religion. London: T. Scott. [Link is to 1878 My Path to Atheism, 3rd ed. of 1885. See Pre-Theosophical Publications (1877-92).]

1874 On the Atonement. London: T. Scott. [Link is to 1878 My Path to Atheism, 3rd ed. of 1885. See Pre-Theosophical Publications (1877-92).]

1874 On Eternal Torture. London: T. Scott. See Pre-Theosophical Publications (1877-92).]

1874 On Inspiration. London: T. Scott. [Published anonymously. Link is to 1878 My Path to Atheism, 3rd ed. of 1885. See Pre-Theosophical Publications (1877-92).]

1874 On the Political Status of Women. Lecture of August 25, 1874: Co-operative Hall, Castle Street. London: C. Watts. [Collected in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]

1874 On the Religious Education of Children. London: T. Scott. [Link is to 1878 My Path to Atheism, 3rd ed. of 1885. See Pre-Theosophical Publications (1877-92).]

1875 Catholicism and Rationalism. A Review of a Two Nights' Discussion Held at the Hall of Science, October 26th and 28th, 1875, between Charles Watts and "A Catholic." With an Essay on the Relative Merits of Secularism and Catholicism by Annie Besant. London: C. Watts.

1875 Essays by Mrs. Besant. Pamphlets bound together. London: C. Watts.

1875 Euthanasia: A Pamphlet Advocating the Legalization of the Administration of Poison by a Medical Attendant to Persons Suffering from Incurable and Painful Diseases. London: T. Scott. [Published anonymously. Link is to 1878 My Path to Atheism, 3rd ed. of 1885. See Pre-Theosophical Publications (1877-92).]

1875 On the Mediation and Salvation of Ecclesiastical Christianity. London: T. Scott. [Published anonymously. Link is to 1878 My Path to Atheism, 3rd ed. of 1885. See Pre-Theosophical Publications (1877-92).]

1875 On the Nature and Existence of God. London: T. Scott. [Published anonymously. Excerpted in 1893 Autobiography See Biographical Publications (1893-1947).]

1875 On Prayer. London: T. Scott. [Published anonymously. Link is to 1878 My Path to Atheism, 3rd ed. of 1885. See Pre-Theosophical Publications (1877-92).]

1876 The Beauties of the Prayer-Book. 1) Morning Prayer; 2) Evening Prayer; 3) The Litany; 4) Prayers and Thanksgiving on Several Occasions. London: T. Scott. [Published anonymously. Link is to 1878 My Path to Atheism, 3rd ed. of 1885. See Pre-Theosophical Publications (1877-92).]

1876 The Beauties of the Prayer-Book. Part II. 1) The Communion Service; 2) The Baptismal Offices; 3) The Order of Confirmation; 4) The Form of the Solemnization of Matrimony; 5) The Order for the Visitation of the Sick; 6) The Order for the Burial of the Dead. London: T. Scott. [Link is to 1878 My Path to Atheism, 3rd ed. of 1885. See Pre-Theosophical Publications (1877-92).]

1876 The Beauties of the Prayer-Book. Part III. 1) A Commination; or, Dencouncing of God's Anger and Judgments against Sinners; 2) Forms of Prayer to Be Used at Sea; 3) The Form and Manner of Making, Ordaining, and Consecrating of Bishops, Priests, and Deacons According to the Order of the United Church of England and Ireland; 4) The Articles. London: T. Scott. [Link is to 1878 My Path to Atheism, 3rd ed. of 1885. See Pre-Theosophical Publications (1877-92).]

1876 Christianity. 2nd ed. National Secular Society. London: C. Watts.

1876 Constructive Rationalism. London. T. Scott. [Published anonymously. Link is to 1878 My Path to Atheism, 3rd ed. of 1885. See Pre-Theosophical Publications (1877-92).]

1876 The Freethinker’s Text-book. With Charles Bradlaugh and Charles Watts. London: C. Watts. [Part II, Christianity, is by Besant.]

1876 History of the Great French Revolution in Six Lectures: South Place Institute, Finsbury. 1) How the Revolution Became at Once Possible and Inevitable; 2) From the Accession of Louis XVI to the Assembly of the States-General; 3) From May 4-July 17, 1789; 4) Constitution Building; 5) From July 14, 1790, to the Fall of the Monarchy; 6) To the Death of the King. London: C. Watts. [These lectures were published with eight further lectures in 1883 by Freethought Publishing Co. under the same title. See Pre-Theosophical Publications (1877-92). All fourteen lectures were reprinted in 1931 by TPH. See Theosophical Books (1892-1934).]

1876 The Secular Song and Hymn Book. Issued by authority of the National Secular Society. Edited by Annie Besant. 2nd ed. London: C. Watts. [Preface and Hymns 32, 88, 116, and 182 by Besant.]

1877 Giordano Bruno. London: T. Scott.

1877 The Gospel of Christianity, and the Gospel of Freethought. C. Watts. [Link is to 1883 edition published by Freethought Publishing Co. 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).]

1877 Landlords, Tenant Farmers, and Labourers. From National Reformer (September 20, 27, and October 4, 1877, under pseudonym Ajax). London: C. Watts. [Collected in 1970 John Saville. A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. See Posthumous Publications (1934-2006).]