The Only Woman In The Room

 Marie Benedict wrote The Only Woman In The Room. This is an historical fiction account of Hedwig Eva Marie Kiesler who was later known as Hedy Lamarr. Marie Benedict also wrote another book I read called The Other Einstein which was about Mitza Maric, an accomplished physicist, who later married Albert Einstein. Both of her books were good. Hedwig was born in Austria and was an only child. Her father was a banker and her mother was a concert pianist before she gave up performing to be a wife. Hedy enjoyed acting. She performed in some plays in Austria. At age 18 she acted in a movie called Ecstasy where she performed some nude scenes and her character acted out an orgasm on film. That movie was banned in Germany and the United States and she regretted agreeing to be in it. She was performing in a play in Austria where she played an Empress when she caught the attention of her first husband. He gave her 12 dozen long stemmed roses on the stage. When the ushers prevented that from happening again he had another 12 dozen roses sent to her dressing room every  night of the performance. Every day the roses were a different color. After two weeks he started sending 12 dozen roses to the house where she lived with her parents. She married him in part because he was an arms dealer who could protect Hedy and her parents from Hitler. After marriage she realized he was abusive and controlling. Both Mussolini and Hitler came to dine at her house and talk about arms. She eventually fled Austria to get away from her husband. She went to England and eventually to Hollywood where she was given Lamarr as a last name. During World War Two she wanted to do more to help the war effort. With the help of a musical composer, the two of them invented a device that would guide missiles remotely. They patented their invention and took it to the US Navy. The Navy told them their idea was not feasible because it was too big. Their device was as small as a wrist watch so they went to Washington to talk to the officials. After some discussion they were told their invention would  not be used because it was invented by a woman. Their invention could have saved lives in the Pacific. Later their invention was used and is still being used in cell phones and Wi-Fi systems today. The book ends while Hedy is still a movie star. Hedy was not a particularly happy person. Men liked her for the image she gave and not for the woman behind the image. The book about her was entertaining.