Norman Angell was an English politician, peace activist, journalist, professor, and novelist who contributed to several of the era’s most renowned magazines. Although Angell was born in England, he studied there for for a brief period before moving to Paris to complete his secondary education. He eventually enrolled at the University of Geneva and later moved to the United States. In the United States, Angell worked in a variety of occupations that did not do honor to his journalistic credentials, and it took him some time to land a job with a reputable newspaper. He eventually returned to Europe and worked for newspapers in Paris, as well as serving as editor of the prestigious magazine ‘Foreign Affairs,’ during a glittering journalism career. In 1909, Angell published his landmark work ‘The Great Illusion,’ in which he argued against the erroneous belief that wars can result in economic development, and the book became one of the most widely read of its time. He also joined the Labour Party and became a Member of Parliament, but his most significant effort in the latter part of his career was his crusade against war.
Childhood & Adolescence
Ralph Norman Angell Lane was born in Holbeach, England on 26 December 1872 to Thomas Angell Lane and Mary Lane. He omitted the Lane suffix from his given name and adopted the surname Angell in its place.
Norman Angell attended schools in his native England before moving to Paris to attend the Lycee de St. Omer. There is insufficient information available on Agnell’s specific high school graduation years.
Norman Angell later relocated to Switzerland to study at the University of Geneva. Angell was not just interested in academics during his tenure at the university, but also refined his journalistic abilities by editing a local newspaper that was formerly published in English. Angell had also been delving thoroughly into the future of Europe during his tenure in Geneva.
Norman Angell’s Career
Norman Angell immigrated to the United States in 1890 at the age of seventeen and worked in a variety of positions on the country’s West Coast. In the United States, he worked as a vine planter, cowboy, postal carrier, and ditch digger, among other jobs. During his eight-year sojourn in the United States, he eventually found work as a journalist for two magazines – the St. Louis Globe Democrats and the San Francisco Chronicle.
Norman Angell was forced to return to his native England in 1898, but he did not stay long, since he was hired as editor of the ‘Daily Messenger,’ an English language daily, in Paris. He afterward worked for the magazine ‘Éclair’ and was employed as a French reporter by several American newspapers.
In 1905, the British daily ‘The Daily Mail’ named him as the newspaper’s Paris-based editor, a position he held for seven years. When the First World War began, he returned to England and assisted in the establishment of the Union of Democratic Control.
In 1909, Norman Angell released his magnum opus, ‘The Great Illusion.’ The book discussed the disadvantages of war and argued that it did not actually result in economic development for a country. The novel quickly gained international acclaim and was translated into other languages.
Norman Angell joined the Labour Party in 1920 and was elected Member of Parliament for Bradford North nine years later. Angell was named editor of the respected magazine ‘Foreign Affairs’ a year before becoming an MP and remained in the position for two years. Around this time, he also wrote the book ‘The Money Game.’
Throughout the fourth decade of the twentieth century, Norman Angell pushed vigorously to rein in countries like Germany and Italy’s strong military programs. He relocated to the United States in 1940 in order to have a more favorable platform for his campaign and backed the American war effort against Great Britain. After eleven years, he returned to England.
His Significant Works
Without a question, Norman Angell’s most significant contribution over a distinguished career as a writer, politician, and peace fighter is his 1909 book ‘The Great Illusion.’ It quickly gained popularity and was hailed as one of the most influential texts arguing against war.
Awards and Accomplishments
In 1931, the British crown knighted Norman Angell.
He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1933 for his book ‘The Great Illusion’ as well as his peace work.
Personal History and Legacies
Norman Angell was a bachelor and had no romantic relationships.
Norman Angell died in Croydon, England, on 7 October 1967, at the age of 94.
Estimated Net worth
Norman is one of the wealthiest children’s authors and is included on the list of the most popular children’s authors. Norman Angell’s net worth is estimated to be $1.5 million, based on our analysis of Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.