NYT Columnist Paul Krugman Highlights The Great Illusion and War in Ukraine

A recently published column in The New York Times entitled "Why We Fight Wars" by economic columnist Paul Krugman, refers to the 1910 Cosimo Classic, The Great Illusion. 


Krugman states: "A century has passed since the start of World War I, which many people at the time declared was 'the war to end all wars.' Unfortunately, wars just kept happening. And with the headlines from Ukraine getting scarier by the day, this seems like a good time to ask why." 

The Great Illusion, written by Norman Angell, argued that war destroys any wealth that conquerors may have wanted to obtain, making the whole enterprise pointless. This book was published just shortly before World War I began and obviously Angell's advice was not followed nor taken seriously then. Will Angell's and Krugman's advice be followed now before it is too late?

To read the full article by Paul Krugman, please visit The New York Times.

British journalist and politician Sir Ralph Norman Angell (1872-1967) was an executive for the World Committee against War and Fascism and a member of the executive committee of the League of Nations Union. Knighted in 1931, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1933. For more titles on war and peace, please see Angell's other titles, including: Peace Theories and the Balkan War and The Fruits of Victory.

July Classic of the Month: The Great Illusion by Sir Norman Angell

Cosimo is happy to announce our July Classic of the Month, The Great Illusion by Sir Norman Angell.


First published in 1909, The Great Illusion sets out to answer one of the greatest questions in human history: Why is there war? Specifically, Angell wishes to discuss why there is war between the countries of Europe, which seem to always be at one another's throats. Angell refutes the belief that military power results in greater wealth and instead proposes that advanced economies based on trade and contract law can only generate value in the absence of military upset. War destroys any wealth that conquerors may have wanted to obtain, making the whole enterprise pointless. A deep understanding of this would, then, end the need for war. Perfect for those readers immersing themselves in war classics for the 100th year anniversary of World War I.


About the Author
British journalist and politician Sir Ralph Norman Angell (1872-1967) was an executive for the World Committee against War and Fascism and a member of the executive committee of the League of Nations Union. Knighted in 1931, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1933. From 1905 to 1912, he was the Paris editor for the Daily Mail, and served as a Labour MP from 1929 to 1931. He is also the author of Peace Theories and the Balkan War and The Fruits of Victory.

Cosimo is proud to offer both paperback and hardcover editions of The Great Illusion at leading online bookstores including Barnes & Noble (paperback, hardcover), and Amazon (paperback, hardcover).