Prisoner for Blasphemy

Name: Prisoner for Blasphemy
Author: G. W. Foote

By G. W. Foote

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About This Book

The author recounts his prosecution under blasphemy laws, detailing the summons, multiple trials, and incarceration, including courtroom strategy, the roles of promoters and prosecutors, time spent in Newgate and Holloway Gaol, and daily prison life. He interweaves factual narrative with critiques of legal and religious authorities, reflections on freethought and civil liberty, and an account of personal losses and gains resulting from the ordeal. The narrative aims for candidness and exactness as a record of a contested struggle over conscience and the criminal law.

About the Author

G. W. Foote

George William Foote was a prominent English freethinker, writer, and activist known for his critical examination of religion and advocacy for secularism. His works often blend humor with serious commentary, as seen in titles like "Arrows of Freethought" and "Comic Bible Sketches, Reprinted from 'The Freethinker.'" Foote's writings reflect his commitment to challenging traditional beliefs and promoting rational thought, making significant contributions to the discourse on religion and morality in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was also known for his autobiographical work, "Reminiscences of Charles Bradlaugh," which highlights his association with notable figures in the freethought movement.