Annie Besant 
Evolution of Life and Form 
Four Lectures Delivered at the Twenty-Third Anniversary Meeting of the Theosophical Society at Adyar, Madras, 1898

Because of her early work as a secular activist who labored tirelessly in support of activities like increasing women’s access to birth control information, it surprised many of Annie Besant’s friends and colleagues when she developed a strong interest in the esoteric spiritual practice known as Theosophy. But rather than abandoning her previous beliefs and values, Besant incorporated them into her newly spiritualized worldview. Similarly, in this series of lectures presented to an international Theosophy conference, Besant integrates the Western tradition of science with the spiritual beliefs of the faith.