The New York Times and USA Today Bestseller! She possessed a stunning beauty. She also possessed a stunning mind. Could the world handle both?Her beauty almost certainly saved her from the rising Nazi party and led to marriage with an Austrian arms dealer. Underestimated in everything else, she overheard the Third Reich’s plans while at her husband’s side, understanding more than anyone would … while at her husband’s side, understanding more than anyone would guess. She devised a plan to flee in disguise from their castle, and the whirlwind escape landed her in Hollywood. She became Hedy Lamarr, screen star.
But she kept a secret more shocking than her heritage or her marriage: she was a scientist. And she knew a few secrets about the enemy. She had an idea that might help the country fight the Nazis…if anyone would listen to her.
A powerful novel based on the incredible true story of the glamour icon and scientist whose groundbreaking invention revolutionized modern communication, The Only Woman in the Room is a masterpiece.
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never give up!
Great writing. Very interesting story.
Brains and beauty but at a time when only her beauty was acknowledged and essential to survive. So much more to the story of Hedy Lamarr than generally known.
I had no idea that Heddy Lamarr as a Jewish refugee from Austria and that she would allso invent a means of guiding torpedos that would have made them more predictable in hitting their targets. But because she was the only woman in the room it was not accepted by the war department but it became the basis of a modern wireless system. Its fairly well written and gives you an insight into the guilt of the Austtruans that got out before the SS came into Austria.
Very good story. I would like to watch her movies after reading about her life
Wonderful read. I had no idea that Hedy Lamarr had this backstory. So incredibly interesting on so many levels. I love to learn history through novels like this.
This book is an interesting factionalized account of the life of Hedy Lamar. She overcame significant adversity and showed courage and perseverance. There was a great intellect behind her beauty.
So interesting to read about a whole other life of a a Hollywood star, and to realize she really was an extremely intelligent woman, who undoubtedly had concerns and interests far beyond her glamorous persona. A very enjoyable and readable book.
Liked the book but wish it had dug deeper and gone further into her life and also told more about her inventions.
Truly amazing story. Highly recommend this book.
I only wish the author had covered more of Ms. Lamarr’s life. The book covers from age 19 to about 35. Ms. Lamarr passed away in 2000, at 86. I recommend watching the documentary “Bombshell” after reading this book. The documentary covers her whole life.
If you like WWII historical fiction this may be for you. It follows Hedy Lamarr, a movie star originally from Austria. It’s an interesting story, and I love historical fiction based on true stories. I have become a fan of Marie Benedict. I already read Einstein’s Wife and Carnegie’s Maid, and she delivers a good read again with her third book The Only Woman in the Room. It is about Hedy Lamarr. No spoilers.
Hedy Lamarr, often referred to as “the most beautiful woman in the world” was much more than a pretty face and a great actress. Unbeknownst to most of the world until just recently, she was also a brilliant inventor who, in collaboration with composer George Antheil, created a system that the U.S. Navy should have used during WWII. Their work also made today’s cell phones possible. But because she was a woman, she was not supposed to step out of her role as “beautiful actress” no matter how beneficial her contributions might have been to the world.
This story, told in first person, chronicles the adult life of Hedwig Kiesler from her first marriage to Austrian maker of armaments, Fritz Mandl, known as “the merchant of death,” to her life in America as the actress Hedy Lamarr. Her story is amazing, compelling, and inspiring, yet also leaves the reader feeling a bit discourage – not in the story itself, but in the way she and women in general were treated by the men in their lives.
Hedy Lamarr should be remembered for much more than her looks and her movies. She certainly found her invention to be much more important than either of those things. She was right.
Lost interest last third of the book.
I read this book on the recommendation of a friend. Written first person, it is a novel about a famous actress from the 1930’s and 1940’s, Hedy Lamar. Jewish, she was raised in Germany, well-educated, drawn to the stage despite reservations from her parents. The notoriety of the stage attracted a man who was tender in wooing her, but controlling and abusive after marriage. During formal dinner parties hosted by her husband, she was exposed to the powerful and wealthy, and eventually even Hitler himself. With difficulty, she ran away and made it to Hollywood. She was tormented by the fact that she could have warned others to the danger of Nazi Germany. Using knowledge gained by the dinner parties and disciplined study, she invented a device that would have helped in the war effort — if they would have believed a woman could do such a thing.
“A” well written historical novel. I would like to know how much is true about Hedy Lamarr. She literally had 2 lives – one married to an Austrian arms dealer and Nazi sympathizer who abused her and her life in Hollywood as a movie star and closet scientist. Her intelligence and guilt and from her first life drives her 2nd. The lack of woman’s rights in the 1930s and 40s is an underlying theme.
I didn’t know the details of Heddy Lamar’s contribution to science. It was interesting to learn about her gifts.
I am afraid it was generally shallow and did not do justice of the brilliance and complexity of the woman under discussion.
Character assessment of a woman stepping out of her comfort zone.
The main character Heddy was a real person and I like to read historical fiction. I wanted more information about her career once she arrived in America. I enjoyed Marie Benedict’s first book, The Other Einstein, more.