Born in Genoa, Novella worked in a shoe factory, then was apprenticed as a blacksmith in his father's workshop. He joined the Socialist Youth Federation in 1920, becoming active in the anti-fascist movement, and by 1923 was serving on the federation's national committee. However, in 1924, he led the whole of the Genoa federation into the Communist Party of Italy. In 1925, Novella undertook national service with the military, but he continued his political activities, and as a result spent time in military prison. He was discharged the following year, and became a leading supporter of Gramsci, serving on the central committee of the Italian Communist Youth Federation. In November, he was sentenced to four years in prison in absentia, but he evaded capture until the middle of 1927. He was then imprisoned, being released in 1931 and exiled to France, where he became secretary of the FGCI. He undertook numerous missions for the group, also serving on the executive of the Communist Youth International, and studying at the Tolmačev School in Leningrad, and Sverdlov Communist University. Novella was arrested in 1942, but the Vichy regime was unaware of his true identity, and so he was soon released. In 1943, he managed to clandestinely re-enter Italy, and began organising an opposition group, from a base in Milan. From 1945, he served on the Italian Communist Party 's central committee, and in 1946, he was elected to the assembly of the Province of Genoa. Novella worked as the PCd'I's regional secretary for Liguria, then Lombardy, then from 1948 was the principal organiser of the Italian General Confederation of Labour. From 1955, he was the leader of the Federation of Metallurgical Workers, then in 1958, he was elected as general secretary of CGIL. CGIL grew under his leadership, and he was also appointed as president of the World Federation of Trade Unions. However, he became critical of some tactics of the WFTU, and was replaced as its president in 1961. In 1970, CGIL voted to separate its leadership from that of the PCd'I; Novella chose to retain his position on the central committee of the party, and resigned as the federation's secretary. He stood down in 1972, his health worsening, and was made the party's president of international relations.
