A short biography of Henry Dunant that will appeal to readers of all kinds has so far been lacking. By an extraordinary stroke of luck, Pierre Boissier, Director of the Institute that bears the name of the originator of the Red Cross, had dictated an essay on those lines shortly before his death. The very day before the tragic accident in which he lost his life, he had gone through his draft and had asked Mme Yvonne de Pourtalès to complete and put the finishing touches to it. This she has accomplished remarkably well in all respects.

August 12, 1949 was an important date in world history. It was on that day that the plenipotentiaries of some sixty States signed the fundamental charters of humanity which are known as the four Geneva Conventions, and which protect the victims of armed conflicts: the first, the military wounded and sick; the second, the victims of war at sea; the third, the prisoners of war; and the fourth—which was entirely new—civilians. After the suffering of the population in occupied countries during the Second World War, such a treaty appeared to be vitally necessary and urgent. As Max Huber said, the development towards total war has made danger and hardship equal for armies and population.