The Only Woman in the Room

by Marie Benedict

A fictionalized account of the life of Hedy Lamarr, the Jewish actress, refugee, and inventor.

Join us for a lively discussion!

Zoom info will be sent out in the weekly newsletter.

Questions? Contact the office at office@shir-hadash.org or (847)498-8218.

About the novel:

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.