Besant writings

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Annie Besant (1847-1933) was a prolific writer throughout her life. She wrote books, pamphlets, and articles during her activities with the Freethought Movement, the Fabian Socialists, and the Indian independence movement; and as a lecturer and President (1907-1933) of the Theosophical Society based in Adyar, Chennai, India. Over 2500 articles and editorials written for periodicals of the Theosophical Movement are documented in the Union Index of Theosophical Periodicals under the name Annie Besant. She also wrote many articles for popular newspapers and magazines, and for Spiritualist journals such as The Occult Review.

Many of her books, pamphlets, and published lectures are listed below alphabetically within categories. For a chronological presentation of all titles, with supplemental information, see Annie Besant Shrine at KurtLeland.com.

Autobiographical books and pamphlets

  • Annie Besant: the Atheist Years. Edited with an introduction by J. Gordon Melton. New York: Garland Pub. Co., 1990. "Reprint of thirteen pamphlets from 1883-1890.”
  • Annie Besant: An Autobiography. London, 1893. Available at Anandgholap.net.
  • Autobiographical Sketches. London, Free Thought Publishing Company, 1885. Available from Hathitrust.
  • My Path to Atheism. 3rd ed. London, Freethought Pub. Co., 1885. Available at Hathitrust.

Early social activism

Book advocating birth control, 1878

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  • Essays on Socialism. London: Freethought Pub. Co., 1887. Available at Hathitrust.
  • The Influence of Alcohol: a lecture delivered in the Livesy Central Temperance Hall, Scrutton St., London, on Sunday morning, February 7th, 1892. London: 1892. Available at Hathitrust.
  • The Law of Population: Its Consequences and Its Bearing Upon Human Conduct and Morals. London: Freethought Pu. Co., 1877. Available at Internet Archive.
  • A Selection of the Social and Political Pamphlets of Annie Besant. With a pref. & bibliographical notes by John Saville. New York, A. M. Kelley, 1970. Searchable at Hathitrust.
  • Is Socialism Sound?: Verbatim Report of a Four Nights' Debate Between Annie Besant and G. W. Foote at the Hall of Science, Old St., London, E.C., on February 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd, 1887. With G. W. Foote. London: Progressive Pub. Co., 1887. Available at Hathitrust.
  • The Trades Union Movement. London, Free-thought Pub. Co., 1890. Available at Hathitrust.

India and Indian independence

  • For India's Uplift; a Collection of Speeches and Writings on Indian Questions. Madras, India: G.A. Nateson [1910]. Available at Hathitrust.
  • India and the Empire, a Lecture and Various Papers on Indian Grievances. London: Theosophical Publishing Society, 1914. Available at Hathitrust.
  • India: a Nation: a Plea for Self-government. With C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar. London: T. C. & E. C. Jack ; [1916]. Available at Hathitrust.
  • Speeches & Writings of Annie Besant. Madras, India: G.A. Natesan & Co., 1921. "A thoroughly revised and enlarged edition of 'For India's uplift'."
  • The Story of the Great War, Some Lessons from the Mahābhārata for the Use of Hindū students in the schools of India. Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1919. "From notes of lectures originally delivered at the Central Hindū college, Benares." 2nd edition available at Hathitrust.

Theosophical writings

  • Avatâras: Four Lectures Delivered at the Twenty-fourth Anniversary Meeting of the Theosophical Society at Adyar, Madras, December, 1899. London: Theosophical Publishing Society, 1900. Available at Hathitrust.
  • The Bhagavad-Gita, or, The Lord's Song: with the Text in Devanagari and an English translation. Madras, India: G.A. Natesan, [1922]. 4th edition available at Hathitrust.
  • Daily meditations on the path and its qualifications: from the works of Annie Besant. Compiled by E.G. Cooper. Adyar, Madras, India : Theosophical Pub. House, 1943. Searchable by Hathitrust.
  • Dharma. 3rd edition - Krotona, Calif., 1918. Available at Hathitrust.
  • An Exposition of Theosophy. Boston, Mass., 1893. Reprint from 'The World,' N.Y., February 26, 1893. Available at Hathitrust.
  • Four Great Religions, Four Lectures Delivered on the Twenty-first Anniversary of the Theosophical Society at Adyar, Madras. Benares and London, Theosophical Pub. Society, 1897. Available at Hathitrust.
  • The Ideals of Theosophy. Adyar, India: Theosophist Office, 1912. Available at Hathitrust.
  • An Introduction to Yoga. Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1908. Later edition available at Hathitrust.
  • Jainism. Adyar, India: Theosophical Pub. House, 1949, 1997. Reprint of a Convention Lecture delivered in 1901 at Adyar, on the 26th anniversary of the Theosophical Society. Searchable at Hathitrust.
  • In the Outer Court. London: The Theosophical Publishing Society, 1906. 4th edition available at Hathitrust.
  • Legends and Tales. Adyar, Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1913. Available at Hathitrust.
  • Man and His Bodies. 2nd edition - London Theosophical Publishing Society, 1900. Available at Hathitrust.
  • Mysticism. London: Theosophical Publishing Society, 1914. Available at Hathitrust.
  • The Pedigree of Man. Four Lectures Delivered at the Twenty-eighth Anniversary Meetings of the Theosophical Society, at Adyar, December, 1903’’’’’. Available at Hathitrust.
  • Reincarnation. London, Theosophical Publishing Society, 1910. Available at Hathitruat.
  • The Seven Principles of Man. London, The Theosophical publishing house, ltd. [19--]. Searchable at Hathitrust.
  • The Three Paths, and Dharma. London, Theosophical Publishing Society, 1902. 2nd edition available at Hathitrust.
  • The Seven Principles of Man. London, Theosophical Publishing Society, [ 189?] Revised and corrected edition of 1909 is available at Hathitrust and AnandGholap.net. Sold over 15,000 copies in early printings.
  • Why I Became a Theosophist. New York: "The Path" Office, 1890. Available at Hathitrust.

Notes