A Few Words About the Devil, and Other Biographical Sketches and Essays

"A Few Words About the Devil, and Other Biographical Sketches and Essays" by Charles Bradlaugh is a compilation of writings from the late 1800s that centers around the author's life as a freethinker, activist, and speaker, along with his thoughts on religion, politics, and fairness in society; the book starts with Bradlaugh's own story, as he recounts his early years, his learning, and the events that molded his beliefs, charting his shift from traditional schooling to political action, emphasizing events such as his involvement with the Chartist movement and his fight against religious conservatism, showing how run-ins with social suppression strengthened his resolve to fight for logical thinking and personal freedoms, laying the groundwork for his later pursuits, while acting as a starting block for his arguments against blind acceptance and oppression, echoing the overarching themes of individual independence and societal advancement that are found throughout.