James Norman Hall facts for kids

James Norman Hall (born April 22, 1887 – died July 5, 1951) was an American writer famous for his exciting adventure stories. He is best known for The Bounty Trilogy, a series of three historical novels he wrote with his friend Charles Nordhoff. These books are Mutiny on the Bounty (1932), Men Against the Sea (1934), and Pitcairn's Island (1934).

During World War I, James Norman Hall had a unique experience. He served in the armies of three different countries: Great Britain, France, and the United States. He started as an infantry soldier and later became an aviator, flying planes. He received several important awards for his bravery, including the Croix de Guerre and the Distinguished Service Cross. After the war, Hall moved to the beautiful island of Tahiti. There, he and Nordhoff wrote many popular adventure books. Some of these books were even made into movies! His son, Conrad Hall, grew up to be a very famous cinematographer, which means he was an expert at filming movies.

A Life of Adventure and Writing

Early Life and World War I

James Norman Hall was born in Colfax, Iowa. He went to school there and later graduated from Grinnell College in 1910. He even wrote a song for his college called "Sons of Old Grinnell." After college, he moved to Boston and worked helping children in need. At the same time, he was trying to become a writer and studying at Harvard University.

In the summer of 1914, while Hall was on vacation in the United Kingdom, World War I began. He pretended to be Canadian and joined the British Army. He served as a machine gunner in the Royal Fusiliers during a big battle called the Battle of Loos. However, when the army found out he was American, he was discharged and went back home to the United States.

Hall's first book, Kitchener's Mob (1916), was about his experiences in the war. It sold quite well. After promoting his book, Hall returned to Europe in 1916. He was supposed to write stories for Atlantic Monthly magazine about American volunteers who were flying planes for France. But after spending time with these brave pilots, Hall decided to join them! He enlisted in the French Air Service, becoming part of the Lafayette Flying Corps. This group trained American volunteers to fly with French squadrons.

Flying High: From France to America

While flying for France, Hall earned several awards for his courage, including the Croix de Guerre and the Médaille Militaire. When the United States joined the war in 1917, Hall became a captain in the Army Air Service. This is where he met Charles Nordhoff, who would become his writing partner.

On May 7, 1918, Hall's plane was shot down behind enemy lines. He spent the last few months of the war as a prisoner of war in Germany. After the war ended and he was released, he received more honors: the French Légion d'Honneur and the American Distinguished Service Cross.

Life in Tahiti and Famous Books

After the war, James Norman Hall decided to live in Tahiti, a beautiful island in the Pacific Ocean. Charles Nordhoff also moved there. Together, they wrote many successful adventure books. Their most famous works are the Bounty trilogy, which tells the story of a famous mutiny on a ship.

Many of their books were turned into movies. Besides the Bounty films, some other movies based on his stories include The Hurricane (1937), Passage to Marseille (1944), and Botany Bay (1953).

The Secret Poet: Fern Gravel

In 1940, Hall published a book of poems called Oh Millersville!. What was special about this book was that it was published under the fake name Fern Gravel. The poems were written as if they were from a 10-year-old girl! Critics really liked the book, and no one knew it was a trick until 1946. That's when Hall wrote an article explaining his secret. He said he was inspired by a dream where he saw himself back in his childhood in Iowa with a group of kids, and one girl named Fern wanted her poems written down. So, Hall wrote them. The poems are simple but give a nice picture of small-town life.

Family and Legacy

In 1925, James Norman Hall married Sarah (Lala) Winchester, who was part-Polynesian. They had two children: Conrad Hall (1926–2003), who became a famous cinematographer and won an Academy Award, and Nancy Hall-Rutgers (born 1930).

James Norman Hall passed away in 1951 in Tahiti. He is buried on a hillside near the simple wooden house where he and Lala lived for many years. On his grave, there is a line of poetry he wrote when he was just 11 years old: "Look to the Northward stranger / Just over the hillside there / Have you ever in your travels seen / A land more passing fair?"

Hall's writings and letters are kept at Grinnell College. His home in Arue, French Polynesia, has been restored and is now a historic house museum. It has his huge library of 3,000 books and many of his personal items. Author Peter Benchley said the house was built for comfort and practicality, but what was inside, like the paintings, photos, and stories, was truly fascinating.

Amazing Books by James Norman Hall

The Bounty Trilogy

These three books tell the famous story of the mutiny on the HMS Bounty.

• Mutiny on the Bounty (1932)
• Men Against the Sea (1934)
• Pitcairn's Island (1934)
• The Bounty Trilogy (illustrated by N. C. Wyeth) (1940)

Other Exciting Stories

Here are some other books written by James Norman Hall, some with Charles Nordhoff:

• Kitchener's Mob: The Adventures of an American in the British Army (1916)
• High Adventure: A Narrative of Air Fighting in France (1918)
• History of the Lafayette Flying Corps (with Charles Nordhoff) (1920)
• Faery Lands of the South Seas (with Charles Nordhoff) (1920)
• Falcons of France (with Charles Nordhoff) (1929) - This book is about their time flying in the Lafayette Escadrille during World War I.
• Tale of a Shipwreck (1934) - Hall shares his real-life story of a voyage to Pitcairn's Island and a shipwreck.
• The Hurricane (with Charles Nordhoff) (1936)
• Botany Bay (with Charles Nordhoff) (1941)
• Lost Island (1944)
• The High Barbaree (with Charles Nordhoff) (1945)
• The Far Lands (1950)
• My Island Home: An Autobiography (1952) - This book tells his own life story.

See also

• The James Norman Hall House in Colfax, Iowa is a historic place.
• The James Norman Hall Papers are kept at the Grinnell College Special Collections and Archives.

Images for kids

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  Hall in the Lafayette Escadrille, 1917

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  Hall's office in La Maison James Norman Hall, Arue, French Polynesia

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  Hall's home and garden, now a historic house museum

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  Edward Penfield poster for Hall's memoir, High Adventure: A Narrative of Air Fighting in France (1918)