I love learning about little known nuggets of history in historical fiction and this book gave me those nuggets I wanted. We have all heard of a Mercedes-Benz car, but I never knew about the husband and wife team that began (what became the famous brand) back in the late 1800s Germany. Carl Benz was obsessed with developing a horseless carriage. Most people thought it was unnatural or evil. When Bertha met him by chance in 1869, little did she know that his passion would become hers as well for the next 20 years. This book describes Bertha's early years in her large family and her relationship with her father. The thing that drove her, was a note she saw written in the family bible by her father. He wrote that "unfortunately, only a girl again." That statement made her want to do more than just be a wife, mother, and housekeeper. She wanted to do the same thing her brothers were allowed to do, which was anything they wanted. So when she heard Carl describe what he wanted to build someday and the enthusiasm in his voice, she knew she had to be with him on the journey. And what a journey of ups and downs it was. Berth's persistence and constant support for her husband's invention was remarkable. If not for her, I don't believe his "motorwagen" would be been built. To prove that it would travel long distances to potential investors and buyers, she and two of her teenage sons, drove 66 miles with it to see her family! The details of this trip were enjoyable to learn about and I really like that she was not afraid of hard work or getting her hands dirty. Her route is now celebrated with the "Bertha Benz Memorial Route" unveiled in 2008 in southwest Germany.
By the end of the book, their motorwagen won the 1888 gold medal at the Munich exhibition. The Author's Note provides a lot of background of what was part of history and what she fictionalized. I enjoyed the storytelling of how Bertha's younger years ultimately shaped her decisions later in life. She was not afraid to go after what was needed to support her husband and family. Bertha had several dogs (Affenpinscher, Dachshund, German Shepard) through the years. I loved that the dogs always were part of the family and seemed to recognize those not so honest businessmen! If you are looking for a book about little known women in history, I would recommend this book.
(One possible trigger warning: dog dies of old age)
Thank you Net Galley for a complimentary copy. The opinions expressed are my own.

While I appreciate the telling of a woman's story, I found this book difficult to enjoy as there was no connection between the characters and the reader. The story was very flat and emotionless. This author appears well loved by her faithful readers and I'm sure they will love this story.

I fell in love with Penny Haw's previous novel, The Invincible Miss Cust, and was really excited to receive an advance copy of her newest book, The Woman at the Wheel. Haw does an amazing job of highlighting little-known historical women and truly bringing them to life on the page -- and the character of Bertha Benz was no exception in this story.

The book is told from the perspective of Bertha as her desire for "more" and her passion and belief in her husband's dreams, propel her family forward and make history. Obviously, the account is fictionalized, but Haw did a great job at taking facts and filling the in-between with plausible motivations and events. I was constantly hopping back and forth between Google and this book as I was sent down a rabbit trail of my own research -- and I love when historical fiction does that.

While some scenes felt repetitive, I think this was only because of the constant, repeated struggles Benz faced in having his invention become reality -- and the story certainly got that across. I also struggled to connect with Bertha as deeply as I'd hoped to. I'm not sure whether this was because Bertha's life goals were so intricately connected with her husband's work and yet, she was often left out (just the reality of the time period and a part of her true story) or perhaps because the book occasionally leaned into feeling like a fictionalized biography. I do think one of the challenges in portraying a historical character is trying to accurately hit the main events while building authentic-feeling emotion for readers.

Despite this minor critique, I found Bertha to be a savvy, daring and determined woman who was extremely talented in her own right, and it was a lot of fun learning more about her.

Overall, this was an interesting and highly educational read. Well-written and researched, I am eagerly awaiting to see what historical figure Haw takes on next. I would certainly recommend this one for fans of historical fiction and for those wanting to learn more about women in STEM, and women who changed history in their own right.

I enjoy Haw’s books about hidden women who made a big impact on history. This novel about Bertha Benz was eye-opening and full of unknown history.

Bertha was “just another girl” according to her father, but she had a mind for machines and business. I loved her partnership with her husband, Carl Benz, to eventually bring the first “motorwagen” to life! It wasn’t an easy road as Haw details every disappointment and failure, but with Bertha’s persistent and constant support, Carl was able to achieve his greatest dream and revolutionize the world.

My favorite part has to be Bertha’s brave journey in the car, showing Carl and the world how his invention really did work. I admired the way she fought through adversity, including personal issues with Carl and her best friend, and stood up for herself. She was no wilting flower!

I am not a science or mechanical person myself, so I had to trust Haw as she took the reader through the details of the motor. It worked as she explained it in a way that even I could understand!

This book is perfect for historical fiction readers who like uncovering unknown women from history and women who made strides in STEM.

The Woman At The Wheel is the historical fictionalized story of Bertha Benz, whose husband built the first prototype automobile, which eventually evolved into the Mercedes-Benz marque. Saying Bertha is the "wife of Carl Benz" though doesn't explain how important she was to his creation. Without her by his side it's likely this story wouldn't need to be told. The Woman At The Wheel is all about Bertha.

The story is a fascinating one. It is very interesting following the process of inventing something like that. The story takes place over several years and as is probably the norm with inventors, there are a lot of setbacks and repetition.

Written in first person we see everything though Bertha's eyes. I felt a bit removed at times as if I didn't quite know people.as well as I would have liked. But it's a true story and the story is good. It is a little exhausting at times as we see the struggles the characters go through. I do not mean that in a negative way at all as I feel the writing accurately depicts the situation and The Woman At The Wheel is a quick read.

I definitely recommend this if you're a fan of history or historical fiction.

this was a great read, love the fact that it mostly focuses on Bertha Benz one of the pioneers of not only the car in general but the Mercedes Benz, which has been an icon for centuries. I love how the author writes, her style is beautiful and poetic. my only concern with this book is that the pace of the book is too slow and needs to pick up a bit more if not people will DNF the book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars

[ Thank you @bookmarked & @netgalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own! ]

PUB DATE: October 3, 2023

THOUGHTS:

I really loved learning about this little piece of history! In the author’s note at the end, Haw mentions she based the novel on biographical facts of Bertha’s life from 1859-1888. But obviously it’s a work of fiction, so she took liberties with thoughts, emotions, relationships, etc that aren’t publicly known.

It was fascinating at times reading about Carl and Bertha and also frustrating!! Rejection after rejection and Carl getting taken advantage of a few times was so hard to read. But I loved how Bertha was his cheerleader the entire time. Working along with him in the workshop where their dreams turned into designs which then lead to motorwagen.

Bertha was a strong and inspirational woman. I was engrossed the entire time reading about the Benz family and their journey! ❤️

Such an interesting and engrossing book! Bertha Benz was an inspiring, determined and extraordinary woman and deserves to be recognized and acknowledged for her contribution in the success of the development of the Benz motorwagen and automobiles. In my opinion, there wouldn't be any Benz cars if it weren't for her.

The book has technical terms and machine parts, but that didn't hinder me from enjoying the book. It is also recommended to search for a picture of the Benz motorwagen before reading the book. The book is also fast-paced. The cover is beautiful!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The Women at the Wheel by Penny Haw.
Such a beautifully written book based on actual facts and events of the lives of Carl Fredrich Benz, engineer, inventor of the first automobile as we know it today and his Wife Cacilie Bertha Benz (maiden name Ringer), entrepreneur, innovator, an extraordinary women. The world's first women long distance test driver.
The book begins in 1859 in Pforzheim Germany, it recounts the story of Bertha Ringer as a child of 10 years of ages discovering a page in a book owned by her father listing all her siblings names and dates of birth. Next to her name and birthday 3rd May 1849 were the words 'Only a Girl'. These were the words that encouraged Bertha to become the strong willed and motivated women of her time.
She married Karl Benz in 1872, using her diary funded the beginning of the first horseless carriage and later called the petrol motorwagen. Along with their children and family they began designing and developing their invention.
They needed business partners and investors to assist in the development and production process of the motorwagen in an era where these machines did not exist. Everyone criticized and mocked both Karl and Bertha. Partners came and went.
Through persistence, determination, hard work and courage, finally in 1886, they applied for and were granted a Patent for a functional unit of an engine and chassis 'The Carl Benz Patent Motorwagen'. The Automobile was born.
People then began to be introduced to this revolutionary new machine through Exhibitions in Paris and later in Munich Germany after Bertha's first long distance test drive in 1888. The motorwagen was accepted by many and people were then interested in purchasing the motorwagen and owning a piece of history.
Eventually, the company formed by Karl and Bertha became Mercedes-Benz as we know it today. A company built on ingenuity, great craftsmanship and brilliance.
Karl later died in 1929, a legend and has been recognized by the automobile industry as a great engineer and inventor of his time.
Bertha in her own right has achieved the same recognition for her courage and her visionary of a future dreams coming to reality. She later died in 1944, two days after her 95th birthday.
As they say behind every great man is a great women. This book definitely proves this phrase to be true.
Such a great story, based on actual true facts, one of my favorites.

Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.

What a breath of historical fiction fresh air! Okay, maybe not, what with the gas fumes and oil, but in terms of picking something utterly unique to write about, Penny Haw has absolutely nailed it with her choice of Bertha Benz and her role in the invention of what is now known as the automobile. In a time (the mid to late nineteenth century) and place (Germany) where women are expected to be wives, mothers and housekeepers, Bertha aspires to be more from an early age, spurred on by her father. Watching her eldest sister go from being decisive and authoritative with her younger siblings to a wife with no say in her marriage further cements her determination not to settle. And inventive, open-minded Carl Benz conveniently ends up in her path. Bertha is lucky to find a man that values and respects her ideas and opinions, and she is crucial to him because she’s one of the only people to believe his dream of a horseless carriage can become a reality. Naturally, even though their relationship is at first glance a fairy tale come true for Bertha, there’d be no book without obstacles, and the pair and their growing family face multiple challenges along the way-including Carl’s difficulties working with others, betrayal, and the financial difficulties of seeing their vision become reality. While it is fiction and liberties are taken where facts aren’t known this feels believable and is one of my more favorite subject matters in historical fiction in a long time. I knew nothing about Bertha Benz or the invention of the car before this and Haw leaves me wanting to know more. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Woman at the Wheel by Penny Haw follows the life of Bertha Benz, wife of Karl Benz, the founder of the Benz motor vehicle. The story begins as a small child, meeting Karl, their life together and the creation of Daimler-Benz. The company would eventually produce the Mercedes-Benz brand we know today. Bertha became notable in her own right for making the first cross-country automobile journey, making her way without her husband's knowledge, with her children from Mannheim to Pfozheim, Germany and back again. It was because of this journey that the automobile would eventually become the success that it was.

I had not previously heard of Karl nor Bertha so I learned a lot from this novel. I can say with complete confidence, I’m not a car person. If it turns on, has air conditioning, power steering and locks, and can hook up to my phone, it meets my needs. Let me assure you the novel focuses more on the history of the car than mechanical explanations. It explains the difficulties Karl had with combustion engines but in a very palatable way for my simple brain (meaning I nodded along like I understood but ask me to explain it in my own words and my head might explode). I love a historical fiction novel that sets out to tell a woman’s story, particularly those not set in WWII. So I was excited to dive into this one.

While it was educational and I believe it portrayed what is known about Bertha accurately, both in terms of her own story and the time period, it left out the emotion. I just felt very removed from her story but then again as a woman, Bertha was too. She rebelled in her own ways though and took control where she could, including her infamous cross-country drive. Yet it still felt like I was watching it play out from a very long telescopic lens and only within the context of her husband’s life. I wanted more for Bertha and perhaps because she was a woman, and never received the acclaim she deserved during her own lifetime, that it really made me feel a sort of detachment from the story. Perhaps it is a testament to the accuracy that the nuances of Bertha’s own story weren’t enough to satisfy my own hunger and aspirations for wanting more for any woman than what Bertha got.

Maybe it was because the novel ends at the beginning of the real successes and we mostly follow the hardships but never get to relish in the payoff.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for providing an advanced reading copy. All opinions are my own.

What an amazing book to follow after The Invincible Miss Cust. I so enjoyed that book and I think this one was even better. The Woman at the Wheel is about the life of Bertha Ringer Benz, the wife of Carl Benz. What a strong, independent woman for her time! It is amazing how she broke out of her mold being raised in a very traditional family. I kept wanting to cheer her on in all of her adventures. Bertha definitely contributed to the success of her husband's enterprises - I don't think they would have succeeded without her input and support and also to the success of her family. I can't wait to see what strong, amazing woman the author picks for the subject of her next book. Very highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an early copy of the book. All thoughts expressed in my review are entirely my own.

What a wonderful story of Carl Benz who is credited as being the father of the automobile and his amazing wife Bertha. Together they work tirelessly to bring the “Horseless carriage” dream to reality.

Bertha is the driving force behind Carl and her unwavering support for him and his ideas stayed firm from beginning to end…no matter what others were saying!!!

Go Bertha!!!

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for this wonderful book!!!

I love reading about strong, inspirational women from history who are only now being recognized. This story was a worthy one. Bertha Benz insured the world would see the horseless carriage her husband invented and was a huge part of how Mercedes-Benz came into existence.
I did struggle to read this though. The writing was factual and repetitive and I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. The author did not bring them to life in a way I could enjoy. It meant that I skipped ahead and raced over sections and I didn’t race to get back to it when I put it down. As a historical fiction piece it was let down by the stilted telling.
Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

What a great story! Admittedly, I did skim over the paragraphs that were very mechanical because, as we all know I am not mechanically inclined… at all.
So take that technical stuff out and we have the story of Bertha who meets, loves and marries someone who considers her an equal… mostly. Carl is a fascinating character, as I for whatever reason imagine all inventors would be.
This book shows highs and lows, family friends and enemies of the Benz family as they work together toward Carl’s goal.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an opportunity to read this early in exchange for an honest review.

This historical novel looks into a topic I haven’t read before - the first automobile. Although possibly not my favorite subject matter, this was well written and engrossing. I’ve read this author’s other books and will continue to anticipate her next ones. I will say her subject matter has been diverse so far. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Woman At The Wheel is an inspiring historical fiction based on the life of Cäcilie Bertha Ringer, known as Bertha Benz. Set in Pforzheim, Germany, the story follows Bertha from her childhood fascination with her father's work as a master builder to her pivotal role in creating the first prototype automobile, which later evolved into the prestigious Mercedes-Benz marque.

Bertha's aspirations are haunted by her father's hurtful words, "Unfortunately, only a girl again," but fate changes when she meets Carl Benz, a dreamer set on building a horseless carriage. Despite others' skepticism, Bertha wholeheartedly invests her dowry in Carl's daring project.

As the narrative unfolds, we witness Bertha's unwavering faith in Carl and her determination to safeguard their dreams. When Carl's partners threaten to withdraw support, she faces the challenge of preserving their life's work. Bertha devises a daring scheme that could prove their brilliance or invite ridicule.

Woman At The Wheel pays tribute to the countless women who lived in the shadows of accomplished partners. Penny Haw skillfully portrays Bertha's significance in automotive history, leaving readers inspired by her unwavering pursuit of dreams and enduring impact.

Author Penny Haw shines a light on Bertha Benz, celebrating her remarkable contributions and rightfully securing her place in history's annals. Woman At The Wheel is a compelling testament to an extraordinary woman and her lasting legacy.

The Woman at the Wheel imagines the story of Bertha Benz, whose husband built the first prototype automobile, which eventually evolved into the Mercedes-Benz marque. She lived in the shadow of her husband. This story celebrates her contribution to his success.

Second half of 19th century. From a young age, Bertha Ringer is fascinated by her father’s work as a master builder in Pforzheim, Germany.

Bertha is bored with every man her mother tries to push her way until she meets Carl Benz. Despite her mother’s skepticism, Bertha is fascinated with his idea of the horseless carriage. His old clothes don’t scare her. It’s his mind that fascinates her.

The storytelling beautifully exposes his passion and his drive, and her strong believe in him. Her belief is so strong that she invests her dowry and inheritance in him. The path to success is not easy and meanwhile they need to make a living. They work as equal partners. They invent components for carriages, farming equipment, buildings, furniture and various other things to improve other’s work in producing higher quantities.

There are many hurdles on their journey. The new improved equipment is not cheap, it’s not easy to convince the buyer and see the vision of rising production. With each partner, his shares dwindle, and after a while each partnership fails until he becomes an outsider in his own company. With growing family, he needs to figure out how to support them and support his dream of horseless carriage.

The vivid imagination and the contrast in time periods create memorable scenes. Bertha’s mother had her dreams, but creating a horseless carriage is pretty much ridiculous. There are many others who see it as something foolish. To be against such skepticism, one must have an extraordinary drive to achieve such goal. But there is one partner, Bertha, that is not only his strongest supporter, but also is the driving force to his success. Despite the ridicule, resistance, and ever-dwindling resources, they persist with experimenting with the design.

It’s amazing to be witnessing the account of such extraordinary journey, to witness first hand such grit and determination of achieving something most couldn’t even imagine.

Spellbinding.

The title of this book caught my attention first. The Woman At The Wheel. It is a historical fiction based on the lives and partnership of Carl and Bertha Benz. Bertha is a strong-willed, intelligent and determined wife and mother. She is part business partner and cheerleader for her husband. Together, the make a great team. The family experienced a lot of ups and downs, but Bertha kept the family on a positive note. The author did a wonderful job of setting eqch scene. The dialogues between the characters clearly llustrated the emotional ups and downs of starting a business. It is a great read and I definitely recommend The Woman At The Wheel.

The Woman at the Wheel is a love story, though sometimes it feels like a one-sided one. Revolving around the love and affection Bertha Benz bore for her husband Carl, it is also the story of a woman who comes into her own and is made. While Penny Haw does ignore some aspect of Benz’s legacy, the overall tale is well-researched and the story of Bertha’s life well-delivered.

German society girl Cäcilie Bertha Ringer is painfully aware of how harshly her gender confines her. She is forever haunted by the legend placed beside her name in the family bible: "Unfortunately, only a girl again." Though she adores her father and wants to take part in his business and get to invent great mechanical things too, she knows her place is to marry - and marry well - and thus she finds herself on the market.

She becomes enchanted with Carl Benz, a man with a dream and a steam engine. Carl has an idea for a horseless carriage, and Bertha has the affection for gadgetry which will help push his ideas to new heights. Their marriage means that Bertha will get to continue to work with machinery, with her husband’s approval. She is his sounding board, improving his ideas as they go along. But Carl is a fumbling businessman, and he keeps making poor choices – which is tough for Bertha, as she’s invested her dowry in this enterprise. Eventually it’s up to her – and a daring cross-country ride, taken with the assistance of her teenage sons – to prove that Carl’s invention is safe and worthwhile.

The Woman at the Wheel is a finely researched piece with a solid central love story that manages to capture the time in which it’s set beautifully. Bertha is a determined, driven woman. She becomes a tough cookie as the book progresses, which is fun to track.

Carl is somewhat less enjoyable as a person due to his pessimistic nature and bitter point of view. As Bertha states, he makes his own mistakes and becomes his own worst enemy.

The period research here is excellent, and the book makes for a fine slab of historical fiction overall, although I wish Haw had acknowledged Bertha’s later-in-life support of Nazism (for which Hitler in turn praised her in his propaganda), and reckoned a bit with the complicated legacy she left behind. Instead she is treated as an unvarnished, enterprising inventor when that wasn’t all she did. (I did not detract points for this, naturally.)

But if you’re fascinated with automotive history, curious about it’s pioneering women or are just looking for a solid story of a tough-minded woman, you’ll likely enjoy The Woman at the Wheel.