Bertha von Suttner - Part 1: Youth of a Nobel Prize Winner

Grey polka dot border

In order to get her a new job, the Baroness von Suttner showed Bertha a newspaper advertisement. Alfred Nobel, the famous inventor of dynamite, was looking for a secretary in Paris. Nobel picked her up at the train station and drove her along the Champs Elysees. She is impressed by his education and his humanity. The inventor of the explosive dynamite is interested in securing peace.

Jean Bèraud: Milliner on the Champs Elysèes, Painting 1880

Bertha chose Arthur and against Nobel. She traveled to Vienna on the next express train and Artur and Bertha married in a remote suburban church without their parents' consent.

At the age of 18, Bertha was to be introduced to polite society at a ball. Such events were marriage markets. The goal was to get to know a rich, beautiful young aristocrat who would then ask for her hand in marriage.

Artur Halmi, Ball at Court - End of the Quadrille, 1898

Bertha and Arthur were able to keep their love affair secret for three years. But Arthur's mother eventually found out about it and Bertha quit. Marriage was out of the question.

Bertha's father Franz Joseph Graf Kinsky von Wchinitz and Tettau and his three brothers were high-ranking officers. That was common in this family. As the third son, he didn't inherit much. He died at the age of 75, shortly before Bertha was born.

Bertha von Suttner's father with his three brothers.

Bertha's mother wanted to get rich through gambling and trusted clairvoyants. She lost large sums of money several times, including Bertha's inheritance. They lived impoverished in a small house near Vienna for two years.

The spa park of Wiesbaden. Lexicon illustration 1870-1880

Arthur von Suttner at the age of 37, 1887, 11 years after the wedding

Bertha von Suttner was 33 years old at the time of her wedding

1st chapter Countess Kinsky

Shortly after Bertha's birth, the family left Prague and moved to Brno to live with Berta's guardian. She spent her youth there. As was usual in aristocratic circles, she did not attend any school, not even a monastery school. They were educated by English and French governesses. Singing and playing the piano were part of her training.

Bertha at age 17 Jahren in Venice, Photo 1860

Bertha fell in love with Arthur Gundaccar, who was seven years her junior, and he returned her love. An official relationship between the governess and the son of the house was not possible. The four sisters did not betray the lovers.

Emperor Franz Joseph at the age of 21.

Part 2 - my adventurous life in Georgia

Bertha von Suttner Youth of a Nobel Prize winner Part 1

Bertha longs for a prince charming. She sees a happy future coming with him.

Bertha's mother had gambled away her daughter's inheritance at the roulette table, and Bertha had rejected marriage proposals from older men. An unmarried aristocratic woman could not pursue a profession in the 19th century. Bertha wanted to become a singer and took singing lessons. However, her skills were not enough for a career. Now the only way out was to work as a private tutor. These governesses were called governesses. They didn't need any training.

Rebecca Solomon: The Governess, painting 1851, detail

Harmannsdorf Castle in Lower Austria, the Suttner family's summer residence.

In 1873, Bertha took up a position as governess to the four daughters of the very rich Baron Carl von Suttner. Two sons were already married, the youngest, Arthur Gundaccar, was studying law in Vienna.

Painting by Emily Shanks: "Hiring a Governess", before 1913

Bertha Countess Kinsky had finally become an “old maid” at the age of 29. It was also not possible for a young woman to live alone. However, she spoke three foreign languages, played the piano and could sing very well.

The fiancé: Baron Gustav Heine von Geldern. He was 34 years older than Bertha, a rich and powerful man in Vienna and the owner of the newspaper "Fremdenblatt". He spoiled Bertha and her mother with gifts. But Bertha broke off the engagement and also rejected further marriage proposals from older men.

Chapter 2 Illusions - advancement through marriage?

Bertha Sophia Felicita Countess Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau was born on June 9, 1843 in the Kinsky Palace on the Old Town Square in Prague, a rococo palace. The Kinskys were a highly respected and distinguished family.

The couple hoped to start a new life in Georgia. Ekaterina, the Princess of Mingrelia, had invited Bertha.

My only chance is to marry&#160; an older, rich man. The rich Baron Gustav Heine von Geldern has asked for my hand in marriage,&#160; I'll take him.&#160;

Alfred Nobel was one of the richest men in the world. At 43, he longed for a family. He courted the pretty, educated Bertha, 10 years his junior. But she couldn't forget Arthur.

Bertha's mother was 47 years younger than her late husband and came from the middle class. She married the old count as a 19-year-old girl, but would have preferred to be a singer. Her origins were a stain for the aristocratic society of the time. Bertha was therefore not a full family member for the aristocratic Kinskys.

The opera singer Henriette Sonntag Etching 1827

Name

Safari may block some audio or video from playing automatically and ‘read to me’ will skip these. You can configure this in Safari’s preferences.