Beatrice Edgell: Pioneer Woman Psychologist

Beatrice Edgell was a leading player in the early days of British psychology, and her achievements as first woman’ in so many respects, make her life and work of interest and significance, both to the history of British psychology and to the history of women in science. Despite this, she is relatively little known. Her life leaps off the pages as someone who was competent but also caring, generous and courteous, with a certain dignity but also a lightness of touch and a sense of humour. Although during her life, she published a substantial amount of work (writing three books and about thirty articles), there is relatively little personal material available. Her work is the focus of this book, as indeed it was of her life. The author has set it in the context of the developments and organisations of which she was a part, and to draw attention to the many interesting and important people with whom she came into contact. This book explores the early history of British psychology and sheds light on one of the relatively unknown key figures to have played a significant role in its early stages.