Robert Weintraub on the Divine Miss Marble

Authur Robert Weintraub joins Chris Oddo to discuss his book about legendary American tennis star Alice Marble.

By the book here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/607526/the-divine-miss-marble-by-robert-weintraub/

Far from a 6-4 5-7 6-3 tennis book, Weintraub's novel tells the tale of a fascinating woman, who at the height of her powers was not only one of the greatest tennis players in history, she was also a mysterious figure who dabbled among the Hollywood elite and spent time away from the sport earning a living as a singer.

Of course we learn of Marble's playing days, from her formative years on Golden Gate Park to her days at the US Open and Wimbledon where, under the tutelage of Eleanor Tenant, she became the game's most celebrated female player in the late 1930's.

But the story is about much more than Marble as a tennis figure. Weintraub's main mission is to attempt to unravel the mystery of Marble, who wrote in her posthumous autobiography "Courting Danger" that she had been involved in a spy mission during World War II.

Marble says she was recruited as a spy for the United States and that she ended up obtaining valuable information by renewing her affair with a former lover, Hans Steinmetz; this is where Weintraub the sleuth comes in and the reader follows Marble's tale, which also involves a pregnancy and a miscarriage, with the unborn baby's father being shot down in the way.

Weintraub does his best to confirm the veracity of Marble's claims, while also weaving what is most definitely true about this alluring American legend into an entertaining tale that, in the end, lets the reader decide on what may or may not have really happened.

Thanks to Robert for the enlightening chat!

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