The Only Woman in the Room [B1574]

2019 HC with missing dust jacket (see 2nd photo for a DJ photo). Bestselling author Marie Benedict reveals the story of a brilliant woman scientist only remembered for her beauty. 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 and understood 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 had an idea that might help the country fight the Nazis and revolutionize modern communication...if anyone would listen to her. A powerful book based on the incredible true story of the glamour icon and scientist, The Only Woman in the Room is a masterpiece that celebrates the many women in science that history has overlooked.

From recent Mixed Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Excellent true story which really was intriguing! I love Marie Beneduct's books! This one follows an incredible Austrian woman in the years before WWII. Her story is unique."; "Who was Hedy Lamarr? I knew the name but had no idea who she was apart from an inkling she was in show business. She turned out to be a person I could not help but highly revere."; "It was a decent book but I feel that her scientific contributions should have been expanded upon more greatly. While her marriage to Fritz was important to her work I felt as if that was given way more page space than needed. For an author who champions women's contributions I just felt that she did not give Hedy Lamarr the justice she so richly deserved."; "I usually love Marie Benedict's books, and I did like most of this one, but it ended rather abruptly. It is about Hedy Lamar, and it follows her life pretty well, but the last couple of chapters were a disappointment."; "This story puts Hedy Lamarr back in the spotlight and explores the role she played in Austria collecting information whilst married to an Arms manufacturer and how once she escaped to Hollywood she created a submarine missile guiding device that was never used but did become a small part of the future communications that cell phones used. A story I was never aware of and well-told, four stars."