Book Review: The Only Woman in the Room

 The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict

Goodreads Summary:

She was beautiful. She was a genius. Could the world handle both? A novel about Hedy Lamarr.

Hedy Kiesler is lucky. Her beauty leads to a starring role in a controversial film and marriage to a powerful Austrian arms dealer, allowing her to evade Nazi persecution despite her Jewish heritage. But Hedy is also intelligent. At lavish Vienna dinner parties, she overhears the Third Reich's plans. One night in 1937, desperate to escape her controlling husband and the rise of the Nazis, she disguises herself and flees her husband's castle.

She lands in Hollywood, where she becomes Hedy Lamarr, screen star. But Hedy is keeping a secret even more shocking than her Jewish heritage: she is a scientist. She has an idea that might help the country and that might ease her guilt for escaping alone—if anyone will listen to her. 

My Review:
2.5/5 stars

The Only Woman in the Room is based on the life of Hedy Lamarr (1914 - 2000). She is best remembered as an actress, but she was also an inventor. Hedy worked together with George Antheil on a radio guidance system for torpedoes that the navy later implemented in the 1960s. Prior to her success as an inventor, Hedy was forced to flee Austria from the Nazis as a Jew.

In an effort to keep her family  safe, Hedy married Fritz Mandl, a weapons dealer... to anyone. During their marriage Hedy was forced to give up her acting career. Instead she listened and observed in every conversation as the doting wife until she had a chance to flee Mandl's control.

Although I loved the story of Hedy Kiesler an overlooked, powerful, and intelligent woman in history. Historical fiction is not usually my favorite genre. I also read this book on audible, so I was easily distracted from the storyline.