Bertha von Suttner was a pioneer in the peace movement at the end of the 19th century, while Alfred Nobel earned his fortune from the invention of dynamite. This book tells the fascinating story of their relationship, shedding new light on the origin of the prize and giving proper credit to the woman behind.

Alfred Nobel and Bertha von Suttner first met in Paris in 1875. This was the beginning of a long friendship and a rich correspondence over the next twenty years. She became a leading figure in the new peace movement, world famous for the novel Lay Down Your Arms! (1889). He initially claimed that his invention could prevent war by creating a balance of terror, but through her influence came to support more active means to secure peace.

Finally, Nobel wrote the Peace Prize into his will before his death in 1896. Nine years later, in 1905, Bertha von Suttner received the prize as the first woman laureate. She continued her peace work until she died in 1914, only a few weeks before the outbreak of the war which she had warned so desperately against.

With empathy and insight, Anne Synnøve Simensen tells the captivating story of the people behind the Nobel Peace Prize, which is considered the most prestigious award in the world.