Evolution and
Occultism
Essays and Addresses Vol. III
by Annie
Besant
London:
The Theosophical Publishing Society
161,
New Bond Street, W.
Madras: The Theosophist
Office
1913
Publisher's Preface
In addition to the
large number of volumes which stand in the name of Annie Besant in
the catalogue of the British Museum, there is a great quantity of
literature for which she is responsible, that has appeared in more
fugitive form as articles, pamphlets and published lectures, issued
not only in Great Britain but in America, India and Australia. Much
of this work is of great interest, but is quite out of reach of the
general reader as it is no longer in print, and inquiries for many
such items have frequently to be answered in the negative. Under
these circumstances the T.P.S. decided to issue an edition of Mrs.
Besant's collected writings under the title "Essays and Addresses."
It was originally intended to arrange the matter in chronological
order, commencing with the writer's first introduction to Theosophy
as reviewer of Mme. Blavatsky's Secret Doctrine, but several
considerations determined the abandonment of this plan in favour of
the scheme now adopted, which is the classification of subject-matter
independent of chronological order. The Publishers feel sure that
this arrangement will especially commend itself to students who
desire to know what the Author has written on various important
aspects of Theosophy in its several ramifications, and for purposes
of study and reference the plan chosen should more effectively serve.
The dates and sources of articles are given in nearly all cases, and
they are printed without any revision beyond the correction of
obvious typographical efforts.
The importance and interest of such
a collection of essays, both as supplementing treatment of many of
the topics in larger works and as affording expression of the
Author's views on many subjects not otherwise dealt with, will be
obvious, and it only remains to express the Publisher's hope that the
convenience and moderate cost of the series may insure its thorough
circulation among the wide range of Mrs. Besant's
readers.
T.P.S.
London, May, 1913
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