A dirty, filthy book : sex, scandal, and one woman's fight in the Victorian trial of the century
Meyer, Michael, 1972-2024
Books, Manuscripts
London, 1877. Annie Besant and her confidant Charles Bradlaugh are on trial for the sordid crime of publishing and selling a birth control pamphlet. Remarkably - 45 years before the first woman will be admitted to the English bar - Annie is defending herself - declaring a woman's right to choose when, and if, to have children. At a time when women were legally and socially subservient to men, Annie's defiant voice was a sensation. The trial scandalised newspapers, captivated the British public and sparked a debate over morals, censorship and sex. Drawing on unpublished archives, private papers and courtroom transcripts - and featuring an incredible cast including Queen Victoria, George Bernard Shaw and London itself - 'A Dirty, Filthy Book' tells the gripping story of a forgotten pioneer who refused to accept the role the Establishment assigned to her. Instead, she chose to resist.
Main title:
Author:
Imprint:
London : WH Allen, 2024.London : WH Allen, 2024.
Collation:
vii, 390 pages : illustrations (black and white) ; 24 cm
Notes:
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN:
9780753559925 (hbk)
Dewey class:
304.666
Language:
English
Subject:
Besant, Annie, 1847-1933 -- Trials, litigation, etcBradlaugh, Charles, 1833-1891 -- Trials, litigation, etcBirth control -- Great Britain -- History -- 19th centuryGreat Britain -- Social life and customs -- 19th centurySocietyEuropean historyFeminism & feminist theorySociology & anthropologyPolitical activismWomen's health
BRN:
2873772