This book examines the life and works of Jane Addams who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize (1931). Addams was an international leader of the women's peace movement and is noted for spearheading a first-of-its-kind international conference of women at the Hague during World War I. She helped to found and led the Women's International League of Peace and Freedom. She began her public life as a leader of the U.S. progressive era (1890 - 1920) social reform movement. She combined theory and action through her settlement work in the, often contentious, immigrant communities of Chicago. She developed innovative theories of democracy and peace, which were advanced through extensive public speaking engagements, 11 books and hundreds of articles. While this book focuses on Addams contributions to peace it also shows how her eclectic interests led to her pioneering efforts in fields - sociology, American pragmatism, public administration and social work - each traces its origin to this period.