The Woman at the Wheel
Author: Penny Haw
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Release Date: 2023
Pages: 312
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
"Unfortunately, only a girl again."
From a young age, Cäcilie Bertha Ringer is fascinated by her father's work as a master builder in Pforzheim, Germany. But those five words, which he wrote next to her name in the family Bible, haunt Bertha.
Years later, Bertha meets Carl Benz and falls in love—with him and his extraordinary dream of building a horseless carriage. Bertha has such faith in him that she invests her dowry in his plans, a dicey move since they alone believe in the machine. When Carl's partners threaten to withdraw their support, he's ready to cut ties. Bertha knows the decision would ruin everything. Ignoring the cynics, she takes matters into her own hands, secretly planning a scheme that will either hasten the family's passage to absolute derision or prove their genius. What Bertha doesn't know is that Carl is on the cusp of making a deal with their nemesis. She's not only risking her marriage and their life's work, but is also up against the patriarchy, Carl's own self-doubt, and the clock.
Like so many other women, Bertha lived largely in her husband's shadow, but her contributions are now celebrated in this inspiring story of perseverance, resilience, and love.
My Review: Carl Benz is most famously known for inventing the automobile. However, little is known about his wife, Bertha Benz. She was the first person to drive a car for a long distance. In this historical novel, it tells the story of Bertha’s marriage to her husband and the invention of the first car.
I must confess that I had never heard of Bertha Benz until I read this novel. However, I must say that she was a very admirable woman. She is fascinated with her father’s work as a master builder. When she learns that her father was disappointed with her birth, she is hurt because of her admiration for him. Bertha doesn’t want to marry. However, her plans change when she meets Carl Benz. Carl makes an absurd claim that he will invent a horseless carriage. Bertha resolves to help make Carl’s dream come true. Bertha proves to be Carl’s most ardent supporter, and her resilience helped make Carl’s invention a success! Therefore, I rooted for her throughout the novel because of her cleverness, resourcefulness, and determination!
Overall, this novel is about dreams, marriage, and expectations. The message in this book is to never give up. I liked the characters in this novel. I also found this story to be well-written and meticulously researched. However, there were a few scenes that I thought were drawn out and a bit repetitive. I also did not like where the story ended. I wished that it would also tell the story of her later life. Hopefully, there may be a sequel! I also like how this novel emphasizes that Bertha was an accomplished woman in her own right! The Woman at Wheel shines light on an important but forgotten historical figure! I recommend this for fans of Enchantress of Numbers, The Engineer’s Wife, and Beautiful Invention!
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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