I had not heard of this woman before I stumbled across her autobiography on LibriVox.org. I suppose that is a reflection of a lack of knowledge of the historical roots of the Labor movement and modern Atheism. The blurb associated with the book convinced me to try it. I am glad I did.
While the book details her life, it is more a record of her intellectual journey from Christianity to Atheism to Theosophy. The book ends as she is embracing Theosophy so the later part of life in India is not included.
To call Annie Besant complex is to but scratch the depth and passions of her nature. From an early education strong on Evangelical Christian principles she became one of the best know atheist of her era.
She fought for the poor and working classes in the end embracing Socialism.
She and Charles Bradlaugh published a pamphlet on birth control. This was a hugely controversial thing to do in Victorian England. She knew before they did it that it could have all sorts of implications to her life. The two of them ended in court being persecuted as it was against the law to promote birth control at the time (WTF). She also lost custody of her daughter because of this.
As far as I could tell neither Annie Besant nor Charles Bradlaugh were divorced from their respective spouses. Yet they lived together for many years. One can only assume they did what adults do in that situation.
The book is worth reading to follow her intellectual journey. It is worth reading to have a first person historical perspective of the early labor and socialist movements in England. It is probable that her various changes in religious philosophy has kept her from being the Feminist heroine and role model she should be. And that is a shame.
This book is in the public domain and can be downloaded for free at:
Audio book from LibriVox.org : Annie Besant
e-Book from Gutenberg.org : Annie Besant