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    Woman at the Wheel

Woman at the Wheel

Penny Haw

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      Inspiring historical fiction based on the real life of Bertha Benz, whose husband built the first prototype automobile, which eventually evolved into the Mercedes-Benz marque."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.
      CONTRIBUTORS: Penny Haw EAN: 9781728257730 COUNTRY: United States PAGES: WEIGHT: 0 g HEIGHT: 210 cm
      PUBLISHED BY: Sourcebooks, Inc DATE PUBLISHED: CITY: GENRE: WIDTH: 140 cm SPINE:

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      Customer Reviews

      Based on 1 review
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      A
      Amanda Claassens
      A story of courage and determination

      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.

      Penny Haw worked as a journalist and columnist for more than three decades, writing for many leading South African newspapers and magazines before yielding to a lifelong yearning to create fiction. Her stories feature remarkable women, illustrate her love for nature, and explore the interconnectedness of all living things. The Invincible Miss Cust is Penny's debut historical fiction. She lives near Cape Town with her husband and three dogs, all of whom are well-walked.

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      Inspiring historical fiction based on the real life of Bertha Benz, whose husband built the first prototype automobile, which eventually evolved into the Mercedes-Benz marque."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.
      CONTRIBUTORS: Penny Haw EAN: 9781728257730 COUNTRY: United States PAGES: WEIGHT: 0 g HEIGHT: 210 cm
      PUBLISHED BY: Sourcebooks, Inc DATE PUBLISHED: CITY: GENRE: WIDTH: 140 cm SPINE:

      Book Themes:

      Customer Reviews

      Based on 1 review
      0%
      (0)
      100%
      (1)
      0%
      (0)
      0%
      (0)
      0%
      (0)
      A
      Amanda Claassens
      A story of courage and determination

      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.

      Penny Haw worked as a journalist and columnist for more than three decades, writing for many leading South African newspapers and magazines before yielding to a lifelong yearning to create fiction. Her stories feature remarkable women, illustrate her love for nature, and explore the interconnectedness of all living things. The Invincible Miss Cust is Penny's debut historical fiction. She lives near Cape Town with her husband and three dogs, all of whom are well-walked.

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