First published 2012
Richard Rhodes reveals the hidden genius of Hedy Lamarr, the Austrian-born actress who became one of Hollywood's most glamorous stars while secretly developing revolutionary technology. Rhodes traces Lamarr's journey from her early life in Vienna through her escape from Nazi-controlled Austria to her arrival in Hollywood, where she captivated audiences in films while pursuing her passion for invention. Working with composer George Antheil, Lamarr developed a frequency-hopping communication system intended to help the Allied war effort by making torpedo guidance systems immune to enemy jamming. Rhodes shows how this brilliant woman navigated the tension between her public image as a beautiful movie star and her private identity as a serious inventor whose work would later become fundamental to modern wireless technology including WiFi and Bluetooth.
Genres: biography, historical-fiction, 20th-century, 21st-century
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: gender-roles, hidden-identity
Setting: Vienna, Austria, Hollywood
Period: World War II
261 pages · Hardcover · Doubleday & Co Inc.