The novel, which is part historical fact and part fiction with regards to the emotions and motivations that the author ascribes to the real-life characters, starts off in Pforzheim, Germany, in the year 1859. The story is told in the first person, from the viewpoint of Bertha Ringer, ten years old at this time, when she stumbled upon an inscription made by her father in the family bible against her birthdate. “Unfortunately, only a girl again.” (p.6)
It was hard for the young girl to accept that being only a girl, would limit her, but she was not given to sulking, although this knowledge of how a woman was perceived, would motivate her to be more than that. Having met Carl Benz, with his dream of inventing a horseless carriage, she was inspired by his imagination and passion.
The technical detail, which obviously accounts for a great part of the story, is softened by the emotional telling of the challenges, betrayals and setbacks that the couple encountered in the process of the development of the motorwagen. “Being poor didn’t necessarily ruin the dream, but it certainly helped keep it beyond our reach.” (p.103)
Bertha was set against the popular notion that all women would want the same things, raising children and keeping house. Her resolve and natural inquisitive nature pushed her beyond the accepted limits, and she became, what Carl Benz declared in his autobiography, the one who “hoisted new sails of hope and support at a time when no one else believed in the dream.” (p.296)
I have thoroughly enjoyed this novel by South African author, Penny Haw. It is captivating and informative, the title, The woman at the wheel, being both descriptive of the character and supportive role of Bertha, but also be taken quite literally, as you will encounter towards the end of the story.
The novel was published by Sourcebooks Landmark in 2023 and made available in South Africa by Penguin Random House SA.
