Enid Charles's work in demography and population statistics from the early 1930s bear the imprint of certain demographic, social and intellectual factors and trends of 19th, particularly late 19th and early 20th century Britain. They help to explain the focus/subjects, methods/techniques and key philosophical ideas/concepts featured in her published and unpublished work. Moreover, Charles readily absorbed other European influences, such as the thought and ideas of some of France's foremost demographers (Dumont, Landry), unknown -- or more likely ignored? -- in Britain before her time. Charles's demographic work in the early 1930s aroused considerable controversy and criticism and was henceforth ignored, even reviled. However, in the closing decade of the last century, a British social historian revealed the "prescience" and continuing relevance of some of her ideas; her practical work in population statistics in the 1940s and 1950s was similarly "avant-garde" in nature.

Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Canada 
Email: sylvia.wargon@statcan.ca

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