Annie Wood Besant was a prominent Theosophist, women's rights activist, writer and orator. Annie was born in London in 1847. After her father died her mother supported the family by running a boarding house. Annies mother asked her friend Ellen Marryat to raise Annie. This gave her an excellent education and the opportunity to travel. Annie became an educated independent woman acutely aware of social causes. When Annie married a clergyman they had difficulties over Annies money she earned writing and their opposing political views. The couple eventually separated. Annie along with C W Leadbeater became interested in thought-form and clairvoyant studies. Annie fought for the causes she thought were right, starting with freedom of thought, women's rights, secularism, birth control, Fabian socialism and workers' rights. Her lectures are an excellent glimpse into the culture and moral questions of the turn of the century in England.