A Dirty, Filthy Book - Michael Meyer - 4 stars

[Robin P]

No, this isn't an early entry in Fall Into Smut! The filthy book was an English reprint of an American pamphlet on how to prevent unwanted pregnancy. The woman charged with obscenity was publisher Annie Besant. Her whole life she was a rabble rouser for free speech, freedom of the press, freedom of (and from religion, workers' rights, and independence for Ireland and India, She acted as her own lawyer at the trial after reading up on law extensively. She was an unashamed campaigner for birth control and a proud atheist - in the Victorian era. I give talks on lesser-known women from history and she is my next subject. The book is pretty entertaining, tying Annie's story to that of Queen Victoria and others of the era.