# Norman Angell — The Great Illusion character guide > Norman Angell in The Great Illusion by Norman Angell. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Norman Angell, Mr. Angell **First appearance:** 0000-preface-to-the-fourth-american-edition ## Snapshot Author and lecturer who argues that modern war is economically futile, and who spends the book answering critics who call his demonstration useless. ## Who they are Angell stands at the center of the book not as a narrator but as a controversialist, quoting his reviewers and rebutting them in turn. He concedes that war remains likely, yet insists its futility can be shown plainly, and that ideas, not fate, decide whether nations fight. His running quarrel with critics like Blatchford gives the argument its dramatic shape: a man defending reason against the charge that reason does not matter. ## Relationships ### [Robert Blatchford](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/characters/robert_blatchford) _rivalry_ Angell and Blatchford held opposing views on war and imperialism, with Blatchford advocating militarism while Angell argued for economic interdependence. ### [Homer Lea](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/characters/homer_lea) _rivalry_ Lea's apocalyptic warnings about Asian conquest conflicted with Angell's optimistic internationalism, making them intellectual adversaries. ### [Theodore Roosevelt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/characters/theodore_roosevelt) _rivalry_ Roosevelt championed military strength and 'the strenuous life,' directly opposing Angell's anti-war economic arguments. ### [Lord Roberts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/characters/lord_roberts) _rivalry_ Roberts, a military leader, advocated for national preparedness and conscription, clashing with Angell's pacifist economic views. ### [John M. Robertson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/characters/john_m_robertson) _friendship_ Both were rationalist writers and critics of militarism, likely sharing similar views and possibly supporting each other's work. ### [Spenser Wilkinson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/characters/spenser_wilkinson) _rivalry_ Wilkinson, a military writer, likely opposed Angell's anti-war economic theories, representing a militarist counterpoint. ### [Lecky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/characters/lecky) _professional_ Lecky, a historian, may have influenced Angell's ideas on progress and civilization, with Angell citing his work. ## In the story ### [Preface to the Fourth American Edition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/preface-to-the-fourth-american-edition) Author of the preface, explaining revisions and the book's relevance to American and European problems. ### [The Great Illusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/the-great-illusion) The author and central figure, presenting the core argument that war and conquest are economically futile. ### [Part I: The Economics of the Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/part-i-the-economics-of-the-case) The author and central figure presenting the economic case against the profitability of war. ### [The Impossibility of Confiscation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/iv-the-impossibility-of-confiscation) Author of the chapter, presenting the argument against the possibility of confiscation. ### [Foreign Trade and Military Power](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/v-foreign-trade-and-military-power) The author, presenting his arguments against the economic benefits of military conquest. ### [VII: How Colonies Are Owned](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/vii-how-colonies-are-owned) The author, who systematically argues that the conquest of British colonies would be futile and that Great Britain would not suffer material damage from their loss. ### [VIII: The Fight for “The Place in the Sun”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/viii-the-fight-for-the-place-in-the-sun) The author and narrator, presenting the argument against the economic value of colonial conquest. ### [The Psychological Case for Peace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/ii-the-psychological-case-for-peace) The author, who analyzes the psychological and moral arguments for war, arguing that they are untenable and that the moral case for war breaks down. ### [The State as a Person: A False Analogy and Its Consequences](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/vi-the-state-as-a-person-a-false-analogy-and-its-consequences) The author, who presents the chapter's argument against the false analogy of the state as a person and its consequences for international conflict. ### [Part III: The Practical Outcome](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/part-iii-the-practical-outcome) Central figure; author of the work, presenting the argument that conquest is an optical illusion and that economic interdependence makes war futile. ### [I: The Relation of Defence to Aggression](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/i-the-relation-of-defence-to-aggression) Author of the book, defends his thesis against critics, clarifies his position on defence and aggression. ### [Is the Political Reformation Possible?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/iii-is-the-political-reformation-possible) The author, who defends the possibility of political reformation and cites the success of his own pamphlet as evidence. ### [IV: Methods](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/iv-methods) Author of the book, presenting his arguments on the methods for achieving international reform. ### [Appendix](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/appendix) The author of 'The Great Illusion', responding to criticisms of his work in the wake of the Balkan War. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/characters/norman_angell - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/characters