Baroness Bertha Felicie Sophie von Suttner was a Czech-Austrian pacifist who became the first woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for advocating peace. She also wrote the world’s most famous book on anti-war sentiments which was translated in all the European languages and had a number of editions. The book carried a message to all warring nations to put down arms and solve their disputes through dialogue. Her writings, speeches and appearances at various functions and meetings earned her the nickname of the ‘generalissimo of the peace movement’. Although she was born into aristocracy she lived her whole life through financial difficulties. She was not allowed entry into the highest levels of the elite as she had a mixed descent and had no great money or large estates to boast of. She was a writer, teacher of languages and a peace activist. Sutner’s life was full of financial woes during the time she spent with her mother and later with her husband.
