Publisher's Synopsis
Theosophy and Life's Deeper Problems by Annie Besant was written in December of 1915. Annie Wood was born in London on October 1, 1847, from middle-class parents William Wood and Emily Morris, of Irish origin. Annie's childhood was difficult. Her father, a doctor, died when she was only five years old, after accidentally contracting tuberculosis from a deceased man. His death left the family severely strained financially. Not long after this, one of Annie's brothers died too. Her mother tried running a boarding house for boys at Harrow School but was unable to support her daughter. In 1855, she put Annie under the care of her philanthropic friend Ellen Marryat, who would be able to provide the girl a good education. This changed Annie's life drastically. At eighteen Annie got engaged to shy and austere evangelical Anglican, Frank Besant. Two years later, in 1867, she married the 26-year-old man clergyman. Within a few years the couple had two children, Digby and Mabel. The marriage, however, was not a happy one. Conflicts arouse over Annie's independence as well as her religious and political concerns. But she was also physically ill-treated by her husband. So terrible was her marriage that once, with poison in her hand, she thought of committing suicide. As she was about to drink it she heard a clear voice of stern reproval, which said to her: "O Coward, coward, who used to dream of martyrdom and cannot stand a few years of woe." She instantly threw the bottle out of the window and never forgot the voice. Eventually, in 1873, she left her husband and returned to London, keeping the custody of her daughter.
