# Spenser Wilkinson — The Great Illusion character guide

> Spenser Wilkinson in The Great Illusion by Norman Angell.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Professor Wilkinson, Professor Spenser Wilkinson

**First appearance:** 0003-the-great-illusion

## Who they are

Military historian and professor, whose views on national defense are discussed.

## Relationships

### [Frederic Harrison](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/characters/frederic_harrison)

_professional_

Both were public intellectuals and writers, likely engaging in debates on politics and military affairs.

### [Norman Angell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/characters/norman_angell)

_rivalry_

Wilkinson, a military writer, likely opposed Angell's anti-war economic theories, representing a militarist counterpoint.

### [General Bernhardi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/characters/general_bernhardi)

_professional_

Both were military theorists, with Bernhardi's German expansionism likely discussed or critiqued by Wilkinson.

## In the story

### [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)

Quoted at length for his argument that the State's fundamental function is the employment of force, which the author critiques as relying on the false analogy of the State as a person.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/chapters/endnotes)

Mentioned for his books such as 'The Great Alternative' and 'Britain at Bay' as representative of militarist views.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/characters/spenser_wilkinson
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_great_illusion_se/characters