The Only Woman in the Room

I finished this novel quickly as the story and writing are engaging.

I knew something of Hedy Lamarr’s wartime efforts and intelligence going in, but this story shed much more light on the woman and highlighted the difficulties she faced.

I recommend it for readers who enjoy historical fiction, WW2 stories, and novels about strong women.

During WWII, a natural beauty with a keen intellect finds a way to become an indispensable tool for the war effort. Hedwig Kiesler was a Jewish, Austrian girl. She married an Austrian industrialist who later supported the Nazi war effort. She was a naturally brilliant inventor. Hedwig proposed a communications technology concept to create an un-jammable signal for torpedo guidance. Her cycling, multi-frequency signal concept is used today in wireless technology. At the start of WWII, she was an aspiring actress. Yet unknown, Hedwig used her innate acting abilities to spy for the Allies. She hosted her husband’s important Nazi… show more.

Having written my own book, I was anxious to read about other stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age. The Only Woman in the Room, the story of Hedy Lamarr, didn’t disappoint. Hedwig Kiesler was an Austrian stage actress when Fritz Mandl, a wealthy arms dealer, began to court her. Of Jewish background, Hedy’s parents thought Mandl would protect the family from the rising Nazi threat. As Mandl’s wife, Hedy attended meetings in which weaponry and the secret maneuverings of the Third Reich were discussed. She was “the only woman in the room.” No one expected her to understand the conversations, but… show more.

This novel took me by surprise because it was based on the true story about the woman who would become silver screen star Hedy Lamar. As a young woman she was both a scientist and an actress. To help protect her family she married an Austrian arms dealer who ended up having deep connections to the Nazi party. Hedy overheard plans and secrets about the Third Reich and ended up creating a broad spectrum technology that revolutionized modern communication and helped defeat the Nazis. Looking at the woman on the screen you’d never imagine the brains that went along with… show more.