The Only Woman in the Room

The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict   336 pages

Everyone has a cellphone these days.  I cannot of anyone I know who doesn’t have one.  And we can thank old Hollywood actress, Hedy Lamar, inventing the technology that led to its creation.

Today, however, Hedy is mostly remembered for her beauty, and there is no doubt about it, she was gorgeous. And she could act. But what has been forgotten is her intelligence and her inventions that helped end World War II and ultimately change the world.

The first half of the book takes place when she is Hedwig Kiestler, an Austrian Jew as the world marches toward war.  She is an actress in those early days but is still controlled by her parents. Fritz Mandl, Austria’s wealthiest man and munitions magnate, falls in love with her and asks for her hand in marriage. Her parents agree, as it seems the best way to protect her from the growing anti-Semitism and the impending Nazi invasion.

As soon as the ring is slipped on her finger, her marriage turns abusive. Although she has been reading as much as she could about her husband’s business, she is regulated to mere arm candy. She is not allowed to pick out her clothes or to talk while accompanying him to many business dinners. But Hedwig listens intently to their conversations, knowing that if she could just talk with them, she could contribute. As Fritz becomes increasingly violent, Hedwig begins to saves any money she can get her hands on and flees Austria. First she migrates to England, then onto the United States.

The second part of the novel concerns Hedwig’s transformation into Hedy Lamar, her success in the movies, and her relationship with MGM Studio Head Leo B. Meyer. On the periphery of that is her scientific work, which was more important to her than an acting career. This part of the novel seems to lack focus, jumping between her burgeoning movie career and her desire to create ways that she can help others and prevent the senseless murder of European Jews. Based on what she learned from Fritz and his business dinners, Hedy was able to patent an idea that laid the foundation for secure communications and ultimately cellphone technology.

The Only Woman in the Room receives 3 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.