Excerpt from Red Cactus: The Life of Anna Kingsford

Introduction

The English born Anna Kingsford (1846-1888) was a most remarkable woman. Everyone who met her said so. With destiny bestowing the mantle of greatness upon her, she stood out from the crowd. She possessed flawless beauty, a brilliant mind, and mystical insight of a rare order. Anna accomplished much in her life, tragically cut short by consumption (TB). She wrote on a variety of subjects, beginning at a young age with poetry and a novel on religious themes. After inheriting a comfortable income from her ship-owning father, Anna married a theological student, Algernon Kingsford. He agreed to her condition of marriage that she be free to follow her own career. By choice, she had only one child, called Eadith, and began to apply her considerable intelligence and talents to social causes that were dear to her heart. During Anna's early married years she wrote on women's rights, short stories, and owned The Lady's Own Paper in London in 1872. In 1874 Anna commenced medical studies at the Medical School in Paris. Not only was she interested in health, she wanted credentials for her campaign against vivisection and in the promotion of vegetarianism. Her husband supported Anna in her studies and career, although he stayed in the background. Anna met the writer, Maitland, who became her co-worker in her causes, and often travelled ..

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The icon Anna used on her letters