The Woman at the Wheel

Before Mercedes-Benz became a legend, one woman embarked on a secret journey that changed everything.

Growing up in nineteenth-century Germany, Bertha Ringer is often told that she’s “just a girl.” But Bertha doesn’t listen—not to her father, not to society, and not to fear. When she falls for Carl Benz, an ambitious inventor who dreams of creating a horseless carriage, Bertha sees more than love, she sees possibilities. She invests her entire dowry into Carl’s invention and becomes his fiercest advocate.

But belief isn’t enough. As Carl faces ridicule, bankruptcy, and the crushing doubt of his investors, Bertha realizes the only way to save their dream is to take it on the road herself—literally. What follows is a bold, covert expedition that will make headlines, scandalize society, and cement Bertha’s place as a pioneer of innovation.

The Woman at the Wheel is a stirring work of biographical historical fiction based on the life of Bertha Benz, the overlooked visionary who helped ignite the modern automotive age. With emotional intensity and rich period detail, Penny Haw brings to life the woman whose courage, defiance, and love reshaped history—one mile at a time.